CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICIVIH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(moncgraphles) 


Canauian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


iOO^ 


I 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  t>est  original 
copy  available  for  filming.   Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any 
of  the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming,  are 
checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  axemplaire  qu'il 
lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet 
exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-£tre  uniques  du  point  de  vue 
bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image 
reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  urte  modification 
dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiques 
ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  andommagee 


□  Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculie 


n 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Lc  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□  Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


D 
D 
D 


0: 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Pianc)\es  et/ou  illusi.    ions  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
ilong  interior  margin/ 
La  rtliura  terrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distursion  le  long  da  la  marge  interieure 


□  Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  pouibte.  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  rastauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  iorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  f  ilmies. 


□  Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□  Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  andommagiei 

□  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur4as  at/ou  palliculAai 

0  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  decolorias,  tacheties  ou  piquess 

□  Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachtes 

0Showth  rough/ 
Transparence 

0  Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualite  inigale  de  I'impression 

□  Continuous  pagination/ 
Pagination  continue 

□  Includes  index(as)/ 
Comprend  un  (das)  index 

Title  on  header  taken  from:/ 
La  titre  de  i'an>tita  provient: 

□  Title  page  of  issue/ 
Page  de  titre  de  la  livraison 

□  Caption  of  issue/ 
Titre  de  dipart  da  la  livraison 


D 


MasthaacJ/ 

Ganerique  (piriodiques)  de  la  livraison 


0 


Additional  commenu:/ 
Commantairas  tupplementaires: 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata  slips,  tissues,  ate.  have  been  rafilmed  to  ensure 
the  best  possible  image.  Pages  65  is  incorrectly  numbered  page  56. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ca  document  ast  f  ilmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X 


22X 


26X 


30X 


/ 

12X 


IfiX 


20X 


24X 


2BX 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University. 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  Iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contein  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'axemplaire  film^  fut  reproduit  grdce  ^  la 
ginirositii  de: 

Harold  Campbell  Vaughan  Memorial  Library 
Acadia  University. 

Las  images  suivantes  ont  dti  reproduites  avac  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  natteti  de  I'exempiaire  film^,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  an 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmto  en  commenqant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  an  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniikre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  das  symbolea  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
demidra  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbole  "-i*"  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symboie  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmto  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clishd,  il  est  filmd  i  partir 
de  I'angle  supirieur  gauche,  de  gauche  ^  droite, 
et  da  haut  en  bas,  an  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


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CONCISE  VIEW 


OF 


The  Origin  and  Principles 

OP  THE  SEVERAL 

RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS 


EXISTING   AT   PRESENT   IN   THE 


•o«?mcc  of  JVew  Brunsmck, 

CHIEFLY  COMPILED  PROM  THE  WORIfS  OF  DIFFERENT 

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.  errors  escaped  the  Printc  lotice,  which  are  not  considered  of  sufli- 
cient  importance  to  inser  +he  Errata. 


—  xji.MiAn,. 


EASTPORT- 

PRINTED  BY  BENJAMIN  FOLSOM 


■.InWJI' 


C.^4 


//. 


^'^^^^^'  ,      C^y^e:  iS^^^^^Z^^  ./  J 


:/ 


CONCISE  VIEW 


or 


The  Origin  and  Principles 

OF   THE   SIVERAL 

RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS 

BXMTINO  AT  PRESENT   IN  THE 

Promnce  of  JVew  Brunswick, 

CHIEFLY  COMPILED  FROM  THE  WORKS  OF  DIFFERF.VT 

APPROVED  .rjrrroRs,  and  desigived  for  the  in- 
formation OF  those  who  may  not  have 

ACCESS  to  more  EXTENSIVE  PUBLI- 
CATIONS  ON  THAT  SUBJECT: 

TO  WHICH  ARE  ADDED 

A  SHORT  SKETCH  OF  PERSECUTIONS 

A^iO  AN  INTEHEaTlNO  NARRATIVE  or        >' 

Twenty  Four  Fake  Messiahs. 


BY  THE  REV.  D.  DUNBAR. 


Paul. 

n<i  more — Young. 

—SirTho'sMokk, 


»*« 


'it'^' 


EASTPORT  ; 

PRINTED  BY  BENJAMIN  FOLSOM 


■ij,?»*«'-     ■■'»S4£^ 


^<^y. 


ru^ 


/ 


.  ^-■.   I  'I--- 


ADVERTISEMENT; 


Whenever  sufficient  encouragement  shall  offer,  the 
Compiler  intends  publishing,  by  Subscription,  a  new 
and  handsome  Edition  of  that  universally  admired,  and 
invaluable  Work,  'THE  PILGRIM'S  PROGRESS,' 
by  BuNTAN,  with  Mason's  Explanatory  JVotes,  at  full 
length  ;  which  renders  it  at  once  intelligible  and  inUr* 
oeting  to  the  meanest  capacity. 


K 


out' i     Coll 
V7Du 


.  C.  j 


v 


TO  THE  READER. 


ill  qfer,  the 
ption,  a  new 
admiredf  and 
ROGRESS,' 
Yotes,  at  full 
le  and  inkr^ 


IP  you  arc  not  a  professed  Infidel,  you  will  feel  somewhat  intcrssted 
iti  the  contents  of  the  following  pages ;  unless  you  are  one  of  those  pro- 
fessed christians  who  hate  received  your  religion,  not  from  the  Scrip- 
tures of  truth,  but  from  the  fashion  of  the  place  where  you  reside,  or 
because  it  is  the  custom  of  the  country.  If  this  is  the  case,  you  would 
have  equally  embraced  the  religion  of  Mahomed,  had  you  been  born  in 
Turkey  ;  you  are  therefore  a  christian,  not  by  choice  but  by  chance;  not 
by  reason,  but  by  a  form  and  tuwic  alone,  and  consequently  the  frag- 
ments collected  in  this  pamphlet  will  appear  to  j'ou  as  a  matter  of  mere 
curiosity.  But  we  hope  bdter  things  of  you ;  and  things  that  accom^ 
pany  salvalion,  though  we  thus  apeak.  I  trust  tljat  you  are  one  whom 
GOD  has  called  by  his  Grace  ,  and  that  you  are  anxiously  concerned 
to  know  the  "good  old  way"  that  you  may  walk  therein.  You  read  in 
God's  word  that  there  is  but  "One  Lord,  One  Faith,  One  Baptism," 
and  perhaps  you  have  been  grieved  to  find,  as  your  knowledge  of  the 
world  has  increased,  that  so  many  divisions  should  exist  among  the  pro- 
fessed subjects  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom  ;  but  being  accustomed  to 
hear  your  Minister  branding  every  persuasion,  but  his  own,  with  enthu- 
siasm, bigotry  and  what  not ;  and  not  having  f  leans  of  comparing' 
the  sentiments  of  one  sect  with  another,  and  each  ,/::h  the  word  of  God, 
you  have  concluded  to  hold  fast  that  which  you  first  received,  be  it  right 
or  wrong  : — if  so,  you  are  the  very  person  for  whose  sake  the  following 
sheets  were  committed  to  the  press.  Remember,  therefore,  that  your 
Lord  and  Saviour,  in  the  days  of  his  humiliation,  upbraided  the  zealotts 
professors  of  that  age,  for  having  made  void  the  commands  of  God,  (the 
religion  of  the  Bible)  by  their  traditions,  (the  doctrines  of  men)  and 
that  you  will  be  equally  culpable,  should  you  embrace  or  retain  any 


IISI'S^ 


TO  TIllC   UCADER. 

»*!ntinitnt  or  ccrcmoio  'n  the  worship  of  the  TRL'K  <  riD  i    ^ 

ty  of  consulUnff  larircr  worlr«^  .r  1        ■   ■  ^°  ^"  opportuni- 

-'-::t'*  r:;r  r  :r,  z-'-  --- '»-  •*• 

P«« -„.„.;  ana  have  .„,,  to.rC'^"""'""''™'^^^^^^^^ 

«/r.ndi.j  any  i„aivU„a,  „ha,e^I  ^    ''"'"  °'  ""'"""r.  or 

St.  Akdreiv's,  Jabumv,  1819.  '"'  "*■ 


9 


■nondcj  for  the  present    that  T,        .       1   "P'»"atioB,  It  i.  „e^. 

obedient  to  the  ^^rkX^rtHri""^'^"''''"'  '°  «"'"°* 
"«saij  explanations  .,re  obta  n  J  tf         ■°°'' °°-'°'"' '  ""^  •"  »oon 

-."»,nica,M  th™,„.  ano.Lri;:"'"'"™  ^  "^  '"-^«'  -"'  »' 


P     < 


j'OD,  merely  tie. 
II,  unless  a  "Thu.1 
■our  creed.    Per* 
M»'it,ER  is  solclj 
ad  an  opportuni- 
'ledg-ed  tenets  of 
lomay  not  have 
D,  which  of  the 
D  by  the  meant 
»nd  duty  to  con- 

Writera  for  the 
'graphs  at  full 
it  necessary  to 
Deluded  I  liave 
desirinff  to  ap- 
s  more  foreign 
;ontroveT8y,  or 
D.  D. 


ere  informed 
^^t  in  mat- 
late  amend- 
o,  extended 
J  the  Acts  of 
t  is  recom« 
to  God  and 
and  so  sooa 
ject  will  be 


<^KE  rcriES  OF  ECCLESIASTICAL  mstORt. 


V 

"That  tte  reader  may  be  enabled  to  peruse  (ho 
fo  ovv,ng  pages  with  more  profit  and  satisfaction,  it 
will  be  well  to  take  a  brief  view  of  the  state  of  reli- 
gion,  at  the  time  our  glorious  Redeemer  appeared 
on  the  earth.  The  Jews,  the  ancient  people  of  God, 
had  gencraUy  departed  from  the  piety  of  their  ances- 
tors and  were  sunk  into  formality  and  hypocrisy. 
Ihe  GontJe  nations,  whether  barbarous  or  cirilized 
were  .nvolved  in  the  grossest  Idolatry.     Almost  evo- 

1,1'".'%^''°"""'  "'°'"*'P"'^'  ""d'h"  enlight- 
ened c,(y  of  Rome  contained,  at  onetime,  upwards 
of  h,r.y  thousand  different  Deities,  which  had  been 
collected  from  the  conquered  nations. 

.^relt"'!^'  "''  rT'r'°"  "^'^^  '^«"  ^  ^erod  tho 
b,    the  an  ,ent  Prophets,  made  his  appeamncein  tho 
land  of  Judoa      Although  the  world 'was  involve^  in 
[  darkness  at  this  time,  vpc  «»,„  „,..s„.  ^.  " 

tn  »  state  of  tranquility  and  repose. 


^he  vast  ftoman  empire,  in  wliich  Palestine  was 
tlien  included,  was  less  agitated  with  wars  and  tu- 
mults, at  the  birth  of  Christ,  than  it  had  been  for 
many  years.  The  manner  in  which  the  Meissiah  ap- 
peared, his  ministry  and  death,  and  all  the  affairs  of 
his  kingdom  and, people  for  many  years  after  he  as- 
cended on  high,  are  recorded  in  the  New  Testament 

Soon  after  our  Lord  left  the  earth,  his  disciples  be- 
gan to  congregate  into  churches.  The  church  of  Jc- 
-i-usalem  was  formed  on  the  evening  of  the  glorious 
tlay  of  his  Ascension,  in  an  upper  room,  and  consisted 
01  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  believing  men  and 
women.  The  persecution,  which  arose  about  the 
time  of  Stephen's  death,  caused  all  the  disciples  of 
Jesus,  except  the  Apostles,  to  leave  Jerusalem  :  this, 
however,  like  modern  pe-secutions,  served  only  to  en- 
large the  borders  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  ;  for 
churches  were  soon  formed  in  mahy  places  ;  first  in 
Palestine,  then  in  other  parts  of  Asia,  next  in  the 
Asiatic  Islands,  and  lastly  in  Europe. 

Mr.  Robinson,  in  liis  Ecclesiastical  researches,  has 
«hewn  that  the  Apostles  and  primitive  preachers  gath- 
cred  chui-ches  in  between  sixty  and  seventy  dlirerent 
cities,  towns  and  provinces.  These  churches  were 
all  composed  of  reputed  '  ..icvcrs  ;  their  bishops  and 
elders  were  merely  overseers  of  their  spiritual 
flocks;  they  claimed  no  right  to  lord  it  over  God's 
heritage;  every  church  was  an  independent  body, 
and  no  one  claimed  a  right  to  regulate  the  aflfairs  of 
another.  If  they  met  in  council,  (as  they  did  at  Je- 
rusalem,) It  v;as  to  advise,  not  to  give  laws.     Chi 


iris- 


il 


Palestine  was 
wars  and  tu- 
had  been  for 
;  Messiah  ap- 
the  affairs  of 
after  he  as- 
V  Tcstamenk 

disciples  be- 
^hurch  of  Je- 

the  glorious 
and  consisted 
ing  men  and 
c  about  the 

disciples  of 
isalem  :  this, 
k1  only  to  en- 
ingdom  ;  for 
ices  ;  first  in 

next  in  the 


e arches,  has 
sachersgath- 
nty  different 
irches  were 
'  bishops  and 
jir  spiritual 
t  over  God's 
ndent  body, 
ho  affairs  of 
7  did  at  Jc- 
uvs.     Chris- 


idamty  prospered  greatly  under  the  ministry  of  the. 
Apostles  and  primitive  preachers,  and  in  a  short  time 
was  carried  to  most  parts  of  the   Roman  empire  ; 
which   extended,  in  length,  alw)vo  three    thousand 
miles,  from  the  river  Euphrates,  in  the  East,  to  the 
Western  ocean;  in  breadth,  it   was  more  than  two 
thousand  miles  j  and  the  whole   consisted  of  about 
sixteen  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This  vast  cm- 
I)ire  was  an  assemblage  of  conquered  kingdoms  and 
provinces>andcompreherKled,.at  iho  commencement  of 
Christianity,  most  of  the  civilized  wg^rld.     At  this  pe- 
riod it  is  said  to  have  contained  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
millions   of   souls.*      Providence   seemed   to  have 
chosen  this  vast  dominion,  for  the  scene  of  the  first 
gospel   labourers.     The  multitude  of  hnguage^s  a- 
mongst  its  inhabitants  was  no  obstruction  to  'hem,  for- 
they  were  inspired  with  other  tongues.     Oppositions 
they  frequently  met  with,  but  this  terminated  in  the 
furtherance  of  the  gos|X}l ;  for  when  persecuted  in 
one  city  they  Hcd  to  another.     The  Lord  gave  the 
word  to  his  servants,  and  great  Avas  the  conipany  who  , 
published  it  abroad.     The  number  of  converts   to 
Christianity,  in  the  early  ages  of  the  church,   must 
-  have  been  immensely  great,  for  h  is  supposed  that  three  ^ 
millions  were  sacrificed  in  the  three  first  centuries, 
in  the  rage  of  Pagan  persecutors.^   « 

The  chm-ch  of  Christ  has  always  been  taught^  by 
the  conduct  of  the  people  of  this  Avorld,  that  this  is 
not  her  home  :  She  was  persecuted  at  first  by  the 
JcAvs,  ^s  the  reader  may  sec  by  consuldng  the  New 
Testament;  then  by  the  Pagans,  and  next  by  mon- 
sters under  the  christian  name. 

*Jlf^bin.8oi?'s  Ecclesiaslical  researchc<f.  iRcnntliot's  Uhi.  vol.  I.  p.  !) 


i 


8 

Histoirans  usually  reckon  tBn  general  persecutions 
the  1st  of  which  was  begun  by  the  abandoned  Nero' 
thirty-one  years  after  our  Lord's  ascension ;  when 
that  emperor,  having  set  fire  to  the  city  of  Rome 
threw  the   odium  of  that  execrablq  action   on  tim 
christians.  First,  those  were  apprehended  who  open- 
ly avowed  themselveB  to  be  of  that  sect;  then  by 
them  were  discovered  an  immense  multitude ;  all  of 
whom  were  convicted.     Their  death   and  tortia «, 
were  aggravated  by  cruol  derisibn  and  sport ;  for  they 
were  cither  covered  with   the  skins  of  wild  beasts 
and  torn  m  pieces  by  wild  dogs,  or  fastened  to  crosses 
and  wrapped  up  in  combustible  garments,  that,  when 
the  day  hght  failed,  they  might,  like  torches,  serve  ta 
dispel  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

Nero  himself,  sometimes,  stood  as  a  spectator 
While  the  shrieks  of  women,  burning  to  aslL^  su.^ 
plied  music  for  his  ears.  * 

He  was  the  first  Emperor  who  shed  the  blood  of 
christians,  and  it  is  said  that  Peter  and  Paul  were  o^"' 
the  number. 

_  2d,  general  persecution  xvas  under  Domitian,  in 
the  year  95,  when  forty  thousand  were  supposed  to 
nave  suffered  martyrdom. 

3d,  began  in  the  3d  year  of  Trajan,  in  the  year 
100,  apd  was  carried  on  with  great  violence  for  sev- 
eral years. 

4th,  was  under  AntoniuE,  when  the  christians  were 
banished  ft'om  then-  houses-forbidden  to  shew  thei. 
hoads,  reproached,  beaten,  hurried  from  place  tcx 
place,  plunderod,  imprisoned  a;,d  sto^e^^ 


1  persecutions, 
andoned  Nero, 
tension ;  when 
city  of  Rome, 
action   on  tlie 
led  who  opcn- 
icct;  then  by 
Ititude;  aJl  of 
and  tortuiey 
port ;  for  they 
r  wild   beasts 
tied  to  crosses 
ts,  that,  when 
:)hes,  serve  ta 


^  spectator, 
0  ashes^  sup- 


the  blood  oi' 
?*aul  were  of 


Domitian,  in 
supposed  to. 

in  the  year 
nee  for  sev- 

istians  were 
shew  theii> 
ti   pLace  tcx, 


0 

3th,  began  in  the  year  127,  under  Scverus,  when 
great  cruelties  were  committed.  In  this  reign  hap- 
pened the  martyrdom  of  Perpetua,  FcHcitics  and 
then-  companions.  Pcrpetua  '  I  ^n  infant  at  the 
breast,  and  Felicities  was  just  -slivered  at  the  time 
of  their  being  put  to  death.  These  two  beautiful 
and  amiable  young  women,  mothers  of  infant  children, 
after  suffering  much  in  prison,  were  exposed  before 
an  insulting  multitude,  to  a  wild  cow,  which  mangled 
their  bodies  in  a  most  horrid  manner;  after  which 
they  were  carried  to  a  conspicuous  place  and  put  tq 
death  by  the  sword. 

6th,  began  with  the  reign  of  Maximinus,  in  tl^e 
year  23^. 

7th,  which  was  the  most  dreadfid  ever  known,  be^ 
gan  in  250,  under  the  emperor  Decius,  when  thq 
christians  were  in,  all  places,  driven  from  th»^ir  hab- 
itations  striped  of  their  estates,  torraqnted  with 
jiacjts,  &C. 

8th,  began  in  257,  under  Valerian ;  both  men  and 
women  sulFcred  deatl^  some  by  scourging,  some  by 
sword  and  some  by  firo.  .       '^ 

9th,  was  under  Aureiian,  in  274,  but  this  was  incon- 
siderable, compared  with  the  others,  before  mentioned^ 

10th,  began  in  the  19th  year  of  Dioclesian,  303. 
In  this  dreadful  persecution  which  lasted  10  years, 
Rouses  filled  with  christians  were  set  qn  fire,  and  vast 
numbers  were  conrined  together  with  ropes  and 
thrown  into  the  sea.  It  is  related  that  seventeen 
thousand  were  slain  in  the  short  space  of  one  month ; 
aud  that,  during  the  continuance  of  this  persecutioa 
Vi  fV"'  province  of  %ypt,  one  hundred  audforty  fom 


10 


i 


n 


li 


thousand  christians  died  by  the  violence  of  their  perse- 
cutors ;  besides  seven  hundred  thousand  that  died 
through  the  fatigues  of  banishment,  on  the  pubho. 
works  to  which  they  were  condemned. 

We  shai.,  at  present,  pass  over  the  horrid  scenes 
experienced  by  christians  at  sundry  times  and  indiffer- 
ent countries,  inflicted  by  those  of  the  same  name, 
and  shall  give  a  brief  detail  of  each,  at  the  end  of 
this  work. 

Wc  will  now  take  a  view  of  tlie  cln-Istian  cause,  un- 
der circumstances  very  dilferent  from  those  which 
have  been  related.     A  little  more  than  three  hun- 
di-ed  years  after  the  birth  of  Christ,  the  Roman  em- 
peror, Constantine  the  great,  embraced  the  christian 
faith  ;    and  not  only  abolished  all  the  persecuting 
edicts  of  his  predecessors,  but  established  i-eligion  by 
law,— -and   under  legal   establishments    of  tUfifcrent 
kinds,  the  great  mass  of  christian  professors  have  bfeea 
mchidcd  from  that  inauspicious  period  to  the  present 
time. 

The  conversion  of  this  emperor  was  effected  by 
the  miraculous  appearance  of  a  Cross  in  the  heavens, 
while  he  was  marching  at  the  head  of  his  armies! 
This  narration  has,  however,  been  considered,  (and 
not  without  just  ground,)  a  fabulous  invention  of  after 
times  ;  and,  indeed,   the  sincerity  of  this  royal  con- 
vert, has  never  been  fully  established;  but  so  it  was, 
that  either  from  motives  of  civil   policy,  or  from  a 
genuine  conviction  of  its  truth,  he  espoused  the  chris- 
tian cause,  and  established  it  as  the  religion  of  his 
empire.     This  was  hailed  by  most,  as  an  auspicious 
and  promining  measure  ;  but  it  proved  at  the  end  to 
be  a  dangerous  favor,  big  with  calamity  and  harm. 


3  of  their  perse-. 
sand  that  died 

on  the  pubha 

I 

e  horrid  scenes 

cs  and  in  differ- 

he  same  name, 

at  the  end  ol 

^tian  cause,  un- 
i  thoBs  which 
lan  three  hun- 
e  Roman  em- 
:  the  christian 
e  persecuting 
ed  religion  by 
of  different 
ors  have  bieer\ 
3  the  present 

i  effected  by 
the  heavens, 
f  his  armies. 
>idered,  (and 
ition  of  after 
lis  royal  con- 
)ut  so  it  was, 
',  or  from  a 
id  the  chris- 
igion  of  his 
n  auspicious 
-  the  end  to 
md  harm. 


11 

It  was  indeed  a  desirable  thing  to  be  frecfd  ft-om 
the  rage  of  a  persecuting  power;  it  was  also  a  pieas- 
ant  sight,  to  the  worshipers  of  the  true  God,  to  see 
the  whole  system  of  Paganism.,  which  had  Ixjcn  the 
pride  of  ages,  gradually  dissolved,  and  sinking  into 
insignificance  and  contempt  :  and  had  Constantine  re- 
pealed all  the  laws  of  persecution,  and  left  religion 
to  stand  upon  its  own  foundation,  he  would  liave  done 
essential  service  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  every 
christian  would  have  reason  to  respect  his  memory. 
But,  when  Princes  undertake  in  religion,  they  either 
do  too  much  for  it,  or  against  it.  "This  zeaflous 
Prince  (says  Mosheim)  employed  all  the  resources  of 
his  genius,  all  the  authority  of  his  laws,  and  all  the 
engaging  charms  of  his  munificence  and  liberality,  to 
efface,  by  degrees,  the  superstition  of  Paganism,  and 
propagate  Christianity  in  every  corner  of  the  Roman 
empire."*  "Nothing,  (says  Milner)  can  be  more  splen- 
did than  the  external  appearance  of  Christianity  at 
this  time.  An  emperor,  full  of  zeal  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  only  divine  religion,  by  edicts,  restores 
every  thing  to  the  Church  of  which  it  had  been  de- 
prived; indemnifies  those  who  had  suffered  ;  honors 
the  Pastor  exceedingly,  and  recommends  to  gover- 
nors of  provinces  to  cherish  and  aid  the  promulga- 
tion of  the  gospel. — He  also  erect*  churches  exceed- 
ingly sumptuous  and  ornamental,  with  distinctions  of 
parts, 'correspondent  in  some  measure  to  those  in 
Solomon's  temple ;  his  mother  Helena  also  fills  the 
whole  Roman  world  with  her  munificent  acts  in  sup- 
''^  port  of  religion,  and  so  on."t  Many  were  elated  be- 
l  yond  measure  at  this  external  prosperity  and  magnifi- 
^    <Kjnce  :  but  the  old  veterans,  in  the  christian  cause, 

*Mosheiin,  Vol  I,  p.  318.  -{V'ol.  II,  p.  57. 


Now,  religion  assumed  a  DrosnGrnn^  n« 

o<- woHdIy  grandeur,  in  coJernVe "  '  i  """'f 
™  ow.o„ts  which  theirchurcrrhoVr  cSeS  S 
suit  of  the  cnohnnents  which  if  offered  them    No,^ 

In  «  word,  everj-  thing  in  faith  and  practice    thnf 
was  opposite  to  the  pure  rehVion  of  T 

inginiike  a  flood,  aL  thi:fe::e r:;::;r:  't 

-bedofitspri.eva,bea„t,,a„/s!Te„::ht 
oppressive  load,  from  which  if  h,=  ? 

recovered.     The  bishop  of  R  ""'"■  ^''"  '^^'"^' 

eminence  among  W   3h  ef  °'°''  '"""  '"'^^  '"  P^"" 

ssLi-:^i^-£?^^^^ 

dign  (y.     Next   ramn        i,  >    >      ^'^''"eu  »o  superior 
.nonfc  ,  nmt  sid     '   '"*">"""'''   P^P^^'    ^^^dinal., 

..^M;nara:Se:r:i;vrt 

"»  mercv,  and  the   honor  of  1,;,  Hoi-   n  ~ 


CHURCH   OF  ROME. 


13 


ng  over  tnciih 
cte4  that  those 
^o  dear  a  rate^ 
hiii'ch  into  his 
'fi'oguIatJngitH 

3  appearance. 
'ss  was  to  be 
pccially  those 
ted  to  a  pitch 

the  princely 
Jceived.  Now, 
urch,  in  pur- 

them.    Now,' 
»  and  pomp- 
ch  had  lonar 
soon  arrived 

racticG,  thaf 
'» came  poui% 
em  was  dis-  . 
-  beneath  an 
er  yet  fully 
'ose  to  pre- 

of  his  local 
lificcpt  pa- 
Alexai^dria, 
to  superior 
iarchs,    ox- 

cardinalf?, 

dungeons, 
y  of  a  God 
rno.     This 


•X 


leads  us  to  the  principle  design  of  the  present  publi- 
cation, and  shall  begin  with  the  church  of  Rome,  or, 
origin  of  the  Roman  Catholic  principles. 

CHURCH  OF  HOME. 

The  early  history  of  this  church  is  covered  with 
obscurity,  but  the  deficiency  of  historical  facts  has 
been  supplied  by  papist  writers,  with  a  multitude  of 
fabulous  tales. 

It  is  sufficiently  evident,  that  the  church  of  Rome 
remained  for  a  long  time  a  small  body  of  christians, 
who  were  but  little  known  to  the  rest  of  the  people 
of  this  great  city.    . 

The  bishop  of  Rome  preached  in  a  private  house, 
and  merely  superintending  the  care  of  his  little  flock, 
and  doubtless  never  expected  his  successors  would 
arise  to  the  highest  summit  of  blasphemous  eminence, 
and  hurl  their  anathemas  to  distant  nations ;  dethrone 
kings  and  emperors,  and  make  them  bow  at  their  feet 

Sylvester  was  bishop  of  Rome  in  the  reign  of 
Constantino,  and  catholics  pretend  that  he  was  the 
thirty  fourth  in  succession. 

The  bishop  of  Rome  arose  by  gradual  steps  to 
eminence  and  authority,'  until  he  acquired  the  title 
of  universal  bishop.  This  title  was  confered  upon 
Boniface  111.  by  the  emperor  Phocas,  in  606;  and 
from  this  period  writers  generally  date  the  rise  .of 
antichrist.  From  the  time  of  Boniface  III,  to  that 
of  Gregory  VII.  a  period  of  little  less  than  500 
ye^rs,  there  were  no  less  than  one  hundred  and 
fourtet^n  pontiffs  elevated  to  the  papal  chair  ;*   ond 

*Trial  of  Antichrist,  p.  14 


»'3#te*.«iS5«((«i^5ft((y,  jjrj^j 


««-",<«  ,-^  .■watSp-,.- 


^'■■^«>:-:  i*i#*e-'ivi^sf 


''*  «HI/RCH  OP  Ro.Mi:. 

from  the  outrageous  reign  of  tJie  last  mentioned  pope, 
to  the  present  time,  the  number  of  these  antichristian 
bishops  have  been  peculiarly  great.  The  history  of 
the  Roman  pontilKs  is  replete  with  every  thing  shock- 
ing to  the  feelings  of  piety  and  humanity. 

Notwithstanding  their  high  pretensions  to  sanctity, 
many  of  them  were  the  most  flagitious  monsters  that 
ever  walked  the  earth.  Their  ambitious  projects  set 
the  world  in  commotion;  their  avarice  drained  the 
coffers  of  their  blind  devotees,  and  Sixtus  V.  left  be- 
hind him  at  his  death  above  five  millions  of  gold.* 

Hence  it  came  to  pasT5  that  they,  who,  by  their  ho- 
ly profession,  were   appointed   to  proclaim  to  the 
world  the  vanity  of  human  grandeur,   and  to  inspire 
into  the  minds  of  men,  by  their  instructions  and  their 
example,  a  noble  contempt  of  sublunary  things,  be- 
came themselves,  scandalous  spectacles  of  worldly 
pomp,  ambition,  and  splendour ;  were  created  dukes, 
counts,  and  marquises,  judges,  legislators,  and  sove-' 
reigns;  and  not  only  gave  laws  to  nations,  but,  also 
upon  many  occasions,  gave  battle  to  their  enemies  at 
the  head  of  numerous  armies  of  their  own  raising.t 
The  pontificate  was  elevated  to  its  highest  piich 
of  woddly  grandeur  in  the  eleventh  century,  and  the 
man  of  sin  appeared  to  have  attained  thesummit  of  ar- 
rogance and  blasphemy  in  the  person  of  Gregory  VII. 

bis£  Trf  "'!  '"'^  '^''  'PP^"^*^-  «^  ""i^-'sai 
V  ?;  ^";;^7f— fBovereign  pontiif;  Christ', 
v^ai   Lord  God  the  pope,  his  holiness.  King  of  Kings, 

MiiJgts  in.t.  Vol.,  V.  p.  270.       fMosheim,  Vol.  If.  p.  21fi.       ^ 


mentioned  pope, 

3SC  antichrisfian 

The  history  of 

cry  thing  shock- 
lity. 

ions  to  sanctity, 
I  monsters  that 
3US  projects  set 
;c  drained  the 
:tus  V.  left  be- 
»ns  of  gold.* 

o,  by  their  ho- 
oclaim  to  the 
and  to  inspire 
^ions  and  their 
ry  things,  be- 
3s  of  worldly 
reatcd  dukes, 
)rs,  and  sove- 
)ns,  but,  also, 
ir  enemies  at 
3Wn  raising. t 

Jighest  pitch 
ury,  and  the 
5uramitof  ar- 


CIIURCII   OP   ROME* 


15 


J  rcffi 


6ory  VII. 

of  universal 
iff;  ChristV 
ing  of  Kings, 
lis  and  king- 

II.  p.  21G. 


doms,  the  Most  Holy  and  Most  Blessed,  Master  of 
the  Universal  World,     r  ther  of  Kings,  Light  of  the 
^Vorld,  Most  High  and  Sovereign  Bishop,  &c.  kts*" 
Gregory  VIL  was  undoubtedly  the  most  audacious 
pope  that  ever  sat  on  Peters  throne,  and  his  whole 
pontificate  was  a  continual  scene  of  tumult  and  blood- 
shed.    He  impiously  attempted  to  submit  to  his  ju- 
risdiction, the   emperors,  kings  ajid.  princes  of  the 
earth  J  and  to  render  their  dominions  tributary  ta  the 
See  of  Rome.     He  dethroned  the  emperor  Henry 
I  v.  and  then  excommunicated  him  from  the  church, 
and  obliged  him  to  stand  three  day&  barefoot  before 
the  gates  of  Canosa  on  the  Appinees  before  he  would 
grant  him  absolution.     This  was  the  first  instance  of 
a  prince  being  deposed  by  the  pope ;  but  this  served 
as  a  precedent  for  many  others,  which  the  limits  of 
this  sketch  will  not  permit  us  to  take  notjce  of. 

The  church  of  Rome  for  many  centuries  prevailed- 
generally  throughout  most  of  the  European  kingdoms, 
and  its  emissaries  made  large  conquests  in  many  re- 
mxjter  regions,  and  this  corrupt  and  idolatrous  com- 
munion is  now  thought  to  embrace  not  far  from  one 
hundred  million  of  souls.  The  religious  order  of 
Priests,  Monks,  NuxVs,  Friars,  and  so  on,  form  an  in- 
numerable company  of  lazy,  ambitious,  and  unprofi- 
table beings. 

The  history  of  the  monastic  order,  Avould,  of  itself, 
make  a  voluminous  work  •  but,  it  is  sufficient  to  ob- 
serve that  they  began  in  early  times,  in  a  mistaken 
manner  of  weaning  the  mind  from  sublunary  tilings. 

'Trial  of  Antichrist,  p.  41. 


N'l 


i 


i  "' 


}^  CfURCH  OF  ROME. 

The  first  monks  were  merely  religious  hermits 
who,  m  the  third  century,  retired  to  the  solitary  de- 
serts of  Egypt,  both  to  avoid  persecution,  and  to  en- 
joy  religious  repose. 

In  the  persecution  under  Dacius,  one  Paul  fled  ♦o 
to  the  desert  of  Thebais,  where  he  spent  ninety  years 
m  religious  solitude.  This  kind  of  hermitage  becom- 
ing popular,  thousands  fled  to  the  wilderness  when 
they  might  have  remained  in  society. 

From  the  monastic  orders  were  elected  most  of 
the  cardinals,  popes,  legates,  and  other  ecclesiastics 
in  the  church  of  Rome.     As  so  many  of  the  brethren 
had  taken  upon  them  to  live  a  single  life,  a  corres- 
ponding number  of  sisters,   finding  they  must  live 
alone,  took  upon  them    the  vows  of  chastity,  were 
called  nuns,  and  were  collected  in  habitations  called 
nunneries.     But  the  monks  and  nuns,  although  under 
vows  of  perpetual  chastity,  did  not  always  keep  apart 
and  many  shocking  things  are  related  of  the  horrid 
measures  which  they   ^ook  to  conceal  their  iniquity, 
and  dispose  of  the  fruits  of  their  infamous  commerce. 
Marriage  was  at  first  permitted  to  all  the  various 
orders  of  the  clergy,  high  and  low;  but,  as  Paul  fpre- 
told  that  m  the  reign  of  Antichrist,  marriage  would 
be  forbidden,  so,  we  find,  in  due  time,  the  celibacy 
of  the  clergy  was  enjoined  by  law. 

Passing  by  the  Councils,  Crusades,  and  many 
other  enormities  with  which  the  history  of  this 
church  is  replete,  we  hasten  to  present  the  reader 
With  a  brief  account  of  the  distinguishing  tenets  maiu- 
Tamed  by  modern  papists. 


I 


CHURCH   OF   ROME; 


pou8  hermits, 
c  solitary  de-' 
on,  and  to  en- 

5  Paul  fled  to 
t  ninety  years 
I  it  age  bccom- 
[erness  when 

)ted  most  of 
ecclesiastics 
the  brethren 
fe,  a  corres- 
y  must  live 
astity,  were 
^tions  called 
hough  under 
keep  apart, 
f  the  horrid 
ieir  iniquity, 
3  commerce. 

the  various 
is  Paul  f9re- 
riage  would 
he  celibacy 

and  many 
ry  of  this 
the  reader 
enets  maiu^ 


17 


IJVDULGEJYCIES. 

We  arc  told,  by  the  ingenious  Mr.  Buck,  that, 
.'icccrding   to  the  doctrine  of  the  church  of  Rome, 
ail  ihe  good  works  of  the  saints,  over  and  above  those 
wliicii  were  necessary  towards  their  own  justification, 
■.re  deposited  together,  with  the  infinite  merits  of 
JESUS  CHRIST,  in  one  inexhaustible  treasury.  The 
k  ys  of  this  were  committed  to  St.  Peter,  and  to  his 
successors,  the  Popes,  who  may  open  it  at  pleasure; 
and  for  a  sum  of  money,   may  convey  to  any  one  ei- 
ther the  pardon  of  his  own  sins,  or  a  release  from  the 
pains  of  purgatory,  for  any  one  in  whom  he  is  inter- 
ested.    The  power  of  granting  indulgencies    have 
been  greatly  abused  in  the  church  of  Rome,  for  many 
penturics  and   were  granted  to  such  as  gave  money 
for   accomplishing  any  pious  work,  enjoined  by  the 
pope." 

The  form  of  these  indulgencies  were  as  follows* 
"May  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  have  mercy  upon  thee, 
and  absolve  thee  by  the  merits  of  his  most  holy  pas- 
sion. And  I,  by  his  authority,  and  that  of  his  blessei 
apostles,  Peter  and  Paul,  do  absolve  thee,  first  from 
all  ecclesiastical  censures,  in  whatever  manner  they 
have  been  incurred ;  then  from  all  thy  sins,  transgres- 
sions, and  excesses,  how  enormous  soever  they  may  be. 
I  remit  to  you  all  punishment,  which  you  deserve 
v^'-  i--"5^-wij  ^ijun  iiicir  account;  ana  1  restore  you 


-■■mm^'Si'%%i~''  >tH 


18 


CIIURCfl    OF    ROME. 


m 


.s 


il 


to  the  holy  saci:amcnts  of  tho  cliurcli,  (o  the  unity  of 
the  faitlifiil,  and  to  that  innocence  and  purity  which 
you  pos  rssc     at  f-y  )tism :  so  that  when  yon  die,  the 
gatoM  of  punt.  jrhall  he  *hut,  and  the  gates  of  the 

paradiufi  Mfociiglh  ^hall  be  optiied,  and  if  you  shall 
not  die  Ht  present,  this  grace  shall  rt  main  in  full 
.forrc  whnn  you  are  at  the  point  of  death.  In  the 
name  •/  ihe  Father,  Son,  aiifl  Holy  Ghost/'* 

According  o  a  book,  called  the  tax  ^f  the  Roman 
Chancery,  in  whtch  are  contained  the  exact  sums  to 
be  levied  for  the  pardon  of  each  particular  sin,  w© 
find  some  of  the  fees  to  be  thus, 

s.  d. 

For  procuring  abortion,        -        •        -     7  6 

For  simony,         -        -        .        .        -    lo  6 

Vot  sacrilege,        -        -        -        .  10  6 

For  taking  a  false  oath  in  a  criminal  case,  9  0 

For  robbing, 12  0 

For  burning  a  neighbours  house,         -      12  0 

For  defiling  a  virgin,{         -        -        -       9  0 

For  murdering  a  layman,         -         .         -  7  6 

For  keeping  a  concubine,         -        .         10  6 

For  laying  violent  hands  on  a  clergyman,  10  6 
And  so  on. 

The  efficacy  of  these  indulgencies  were  such  that 
the  most  heinous  sins  would  be  remitted  and  expiated 
])y  thrm,  ri.;.d  the  souls  confined  in  purgatory,  for 
whose  redemption  indulgencies  are  purchased  aro 
s-aid  to  escape  instantly  from  that  plate  of  torment, 
MS  soon  as  the  money  tinkles  in  the  chest.     It  was 

*Buck's  Theo.  Diet.  p.  223. 
.•TJipre  are  mt\ny  ftthers,  of  like  nature,  whtch  delicacy  forbids  us  to 

Insert. 


"H  ;■ 


t  the  unity  of 
purity  which 
yoa  die,  the 
!  gates  ofthe 
I  il'you  shall 
I  main  in  full 
itli.     In  the 

St."* 

the  Roman 
act  sums  to 
jlar  sin,  we 

s.  d, 

.     7  6 

-    10  6 

10  6 

;ase,  9  0 

-  12  O 

"      12  0 

-       9  0 

-7  6 

10  6 

an,  10  6 

D  such  that 
id  expiated 
;atory,  for 
chased  are 
if  torment, 
5t.     It  was 

:y  forbids  us  tp 


I 


CIIUACII   or    ROMfc 


19 


A 


this  great  abuse  of  indulgcncies,  which  induced  Mar- 
tin Luther  to  declaim,  first  against  the  preachers  of 
indulgencie#,and  then  against  indulgencics  themselves. 
Since  that  time  the  popes  have  been  more    j.aring 
in  the  exercise  of  this  power;  nlthougli  it  is  said  they 
still  carry  on  a  great  trade   with  them  to  the  Indies, 
where  they  arc  purchased  at  two  rials  a  pi^co,  and 
sometimes  more.     We  arc  told  also  that  a  gentleman 
not  long  since,  being  at  Naples,  in  order  that  it  might 
be  fully  ascertained  respecting  indulgencies,  went  to 
the  office,  and  for  two  sequins  purchased  a  plenary 
remission  of  all  sins  for  hijiiself  and  for  any  other  two 
persons  of  his  Ir.cnds  or  relations,  whose  name  he 
was  empowered  to  iqsert. 


IJyQUISITIOJY, 

Is  a  tribunal   erected  in  several  popish  countnes, 
lor  the  excommunication  and  punishment  of  heretics. 
This  court  was  founded  in  the  twelfth  century  under 
the  patronage  of  pope  INNOCENT,  who  issued  out 
orders  to  excUe  the  catholic  princes  and  people  to 
extirpate  heretics.     The   people  stand  in  so  much 
fear  of  this  diabolical  tribunal,  that  parents  deliver 
up  their  children,  husbands  their  wives,  and  masters 
their  servants,  to  its  officers,   without  daring  in  the 
least  to  murmur.     The  prisoner,  are  kept  for  a  lon^ 
toe  till  th.y  themselves  turn  their  own  accusers^ 
i>^n  as  the  Inquisition  is  now  shut,  iq  many  Roman 
Catholic  countries,  we  pass  over  it,  and  notice  some 
ol  thfir  Sacraments,  kc. 


20 


CHURCH    OP    ROi\IKi 


TRJJVSUBSTjj^TMTIOjy, 


■rf 


1  ■ 


Is  an  essential  article  of  the  popish  creed,  bj  which 
they  maintain  that  the  bread  and  wine  in  the  Eucha- 
rist, are  changed  into  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ,  which  they  suppose  to  be  wrought  by  the 
consecration  of  the  priest. 


PEJYJJYC% 

is  a  punishment,  imposed,  at  the  discretion  of  the 
priest,   for  sins  committed  atter  Baptism :   besides 
fasting,  alms  and   abstinence,   whicJi  are  the  general 
conditions  of  penance ;  there  are  several  others  of  a 
more  particular  kind ;  as  the  repeating  of  a  certain 
number  of  ave-marys,  paternosters,  and  credos,  wearing 
a  hair  shift,  and  giving  one's  self  a  certain  number  of 
sitnpes.     In  Spain  and  Italy  it  is  usual  to  see  chris- 
tians almost  naked,  loaded  with  chains,  and  l>3hiD<r 
themselves   at   every  step.     The  council  of  Trent* 
iias  pronounced  eyery  one  accursed  nlio  denies  that 
penance  is  a  Sacrament  instituted  by  Ciirist. 

BAPTISM, 

In  the  opinion  of  the  Romanists,  is  the  most  sacred 
of  their  seven  sacraments.     It  was  soon-  introduced 

*Sess.  M.  Can.  i. 


creed,  bj  which 
c  in  the  Eucha- 
}  blood  of  Jesus 
i^rought  by  the 


I 


CHUftCH   OP   JlOME.  2i 

into  this  infallible  church  as  essential  to  salvation,  and 
as  no  sin  committed  after  baptism  could  be  forgiven, 
they,  (of  course)  delayed  the  ceremony  until  the  sub- 
ject was  at  the  point  of  death.     In  process  of  time, 
however,  the  lucky  art  of  negotiating  with  Heaven, 
by  means  of  penance  and   purchasing  indulgencies 
was  discovered,  and  this  holy  ordinance  suffered  a 
great  many  vicissitudes   until  at  length  it  descended 
to  the  new  born  infant. 


COJSTIRMATIOJW 


iscretion  of  the 
ptism  :   besides 
ire  the  general 
ral  others  of  a 
ig  of  a  certain 
'redos^  wearinjr 
tain  number  of 
1  to  see  cbris- 
is,  and  1  vs'iiiig 
icil  of  Tient* 
110  denies  that 
/hrist. 


3  most  sacred 
n-  introduced 


i 


Is  a  sacrament,  so  sacred,  that  it  cannot  be  respect- 
ed without  sacrilege ;  it  is  generally  performed  by 
the  Romanist,  seven  years  after  the  person  is  bap- 
tized, and  the  grace  confered  by  the  priest  on  this 
occasion  is  very  great.* ! ! ! 


ORDERS. 

This,  the  papists  make  their  sixth  sacrament. 
There  are  seven  orders^  exclusive  of  the  episco- 
pate, which  the  council  of  Trent  enjoins  to  be  receiv- 
ed and  believed  on  pain  of  anathema*  The  creed  of 
Pope  Pius,  IV.  must  also  be  sworn  to  by  every  one 
who  enters  into  holy  orders  in  the  church  of  Romo^ 

*See  Baptisni,  coun.  of  Trent,  Soss.  7,  can.  8. 


'•*'i'^^»inn;-f\imi!mmmu{«.:mi:m0mtmim*j<,t 


'J2 


(CHURCH    OF    ROME. 


nud  at  tlie  close  of  this  creed  \\c  are  told,  the  faith 
contained  in  it,  is  so  absolutely  and  indispensably  ne- 
cessary, that  no  man  can  be  saved  without  it. 

Time  would  fail  me  to  write  of  their  extreme  unc- 
tion—their  matrimony— their  confessions— their  wor- 
'^hipmg  of    images— their    honouring    relics — their 
praying  to  saints— their  intercession  for  the  dead— 
the  infallibility  of  their  church  and  pope— the  gol- 
den Jesus— the     twelve  silver     apostles— the  two 
silver  crosses,  found  in  the  cathedral  of  Glasgow'  at 
the  reformation,  as  also  a  piece  of  the   manger  in 
which  Christ    was  laid—the  hair  of  the  blessed  vir- 
gin— St.  Martin's  cloak— St.  Kentige rn's  hairy  gar- 
ment—the scourge  with  which  St.  Thomas  A'Becket 
flogged  himself— a  piece  of  the  girdle   worn  by  the 
Virgin  Mary— the   crystal  case  containing  St.  Mag- 
dalen's bones — a  foot  of  the  venj  ass  upon  which 
Christ   rode    to    Jerusalem — John   Baptist's  finger, 
with    which   he    pointed    to   Christ,  when  he  said, 
'•behold  the  Lamb  of  God"— the  four  chrystal  viols 
containing  part  of  the  Virgin  Mary's  milk— the  two 
linen  bags  full  of   saint's  bones — the   wooden  chest 
and  the  six  hides,  &lc.  &c.  «fec. 

From  what  has  been  said  respecting  this  mother 
of  Harlots,  let  my  reader /?a?^5c  a  moment,  and  learn 
to  what  a  dreadful  pitch  sin  has  reduced  our  nature, 
when  men  of  rational  faculties,  and  the  best  of  hu- 
man education,  are  left  to  drink  in  abominations,  so 
diomoh'ically  opposite  to  reaFon  and  revelation. 


told,  the  faith 
dlspcnsably  nc- 
ithout  it. 

ir  extreme  unc- 
)ns — their  wor- 
1    rehcs — their 
or  the  dead — 
pope — the  gol- 
tlcs — the  two 
if  Glasgow'  at 
he   manger  in 
le  blessed  vir- 
rn's  hairy  gar- 
imas  A'Beckct 
worn  by  the 
ining  St.  Mag- 
'  upon   which 
iptist's  finger, 
vhen  he  said, 
chrysfal  viols 
ilk — the  two 
wooden  chest 

'  this  mother 
jnf,  and  Jearn 
d  our  nature, 
e  best  of  hu- 
minations,  so 
vclation. 


A  SHORT  SKETCH  OF  THf.  Ri:FOR3IATIri> . 


2?> 


I 


THE  BEFORMJTIOA. 


The  person,  who  made  the  first  successful  attack, 
on  these  extravagant  superstitions,  was  Martin  Lu- 
th'3r,  in  1520.      Luther  was  a  native  of  Eisleban,   in 
Saxony,  and  born  in  1483.     Though  his  parents  wavo, 
poor,  he  received  a  learned  education  ;  during,  th<^ 
progress  of  which,  he  gave  many  indications  of  un- 
common vigour  and  acuteness  of  genius.     Hi;  mind 
was  naturally  susceptible  of  serious  impression^:,  and 
tinctured  with  somewhat  of  that  religious  molanclio- 
ly,  whirh  delights  in  the   solitude   and   devotion   of 
monasticai  life.     He  retired  into  a  convent  of  Auo-us- 
tinian  friars,    where  he  acquired  groat  roputation, 
not  only  for  piety,  but  for  love  of  knowledge,  and  un^ 
wearied  application  to  study.  He  had  been  taught  the 
scholastic  philosophy,  which  was  in  voguo  in  those 
days,  and  made  considerable  progress  in  it;  but  hap- 
pening to  find  a  copy  of  the  Bible  wliich  lay  neglect- 
ed  in  the  library  of  his  monastry,  he  applied  himself 
to  the  study  of  it,  with  such  eagerness  and  assiduity, 
as  quite  astonished  the  monks,  and  increased  his  re- 
putation so  much,  that  he  was  chosen  professor,  first 
of  philosophy,  and  afterwards  of  theology,   in  Wit- 
temburg,  where  tiic  elector  of  Saxonv  hy]  fo-indofl 
a  University. 


■4 


m 


24      A  SHORT  SKETCH  OF  THE  REFORMATION. 

About  this  time,  Leo,  X.  having  tried  every  device 
that  the  fertile  invention  of  priests  had  fallen  upon, 
to  drain  the  coifers  of  the  credulous  multitude,  but 
finding  them  all  insufficient  to  liquidate  the  expences 
which  were  daily  incured  by  his  Jove  of  splendour, 
his  taste  for  pleasures,  and  his  magnificence  in  re- 
warding men  of  genius,  he  had  recourse  to  a  sale  of 
jndulgcncies.*     The  right  of  promulgating  these  in 
Germany,  together  with  a  share  in  the  profits,  aris- 
ing from  the  sale  of  them,   was  granted  to  Albert, 
elector  of  Mentz,  and  archbishop    of  Magdeburo-' 
who,  as  his  chief  agent,  for  retailing  them  in  Saxony, 
employed  Tetzel,  a  Dominican  friar,  of  licentious' 
morals,  but  of  an  active  spirit,  and  remarkable  for  his 
noisy  and  popular  eloquence ;  he,   assisted  by  the 
monks  of  his  order,  executed  the  commission  with 
great  zeal,   but  with  little  discretion  or  decency. 

Luther  beheld  his  success  with  great  concern;  and 
having  inveighed  against  indulgencies  from  the  pulpit, 
he  afterwards  published  ninety-five  thesis    contain- 
ing his  sentiments  upon  that  subject.     He  was  a  man 
ofaHd  and  fearless  spirit,  and   well  qualified  to 
hear,  undaunted,  the  terrific  thunders  of  the  pope, 
and  to  execute  the  work,    which  we  cannot  hesitate 
to  believe,  he  was  raised  by  divine  Providence  to 
perform.     Soon  after  he  began  his  successful  career, 
he  drew  the  attention  of  most  of  the  European  world. 
Pope   Leo,  X.   and  all  his  creatures,  both  ecclesias- 
tical and  civil,  fixed  their  jealous  eyes  on  him,  and 
leveled  theif  vengeance  against  his  devoted  head, 

*See  pag'c  17. 


RMATION. 

•led  every  device 
lad  fallen  upon, 
3  multitude,  but 
ite  the  expences 
e  of  splendour, 
^nificence  in  re- 
irse  to  a  sale  of 
»ating  these  in 
he  profits,  aris- 

nted  to  Albert, 
)f  Magdeburg, 
hem  in  Saxony, 
r,  of  licentious 
larkable  for  his 
ssisted  by  the 
mmission  Avith 
or  decency. 

t  concern ;  and 
'om  the  pulpit, 
hesis    contain- 
He  was  a  man 
11  qualified  to 
I  of  the  pope, 
annot  hesitate 
Providence  to 
jessful  career, 
rope  an  world, 
loth  ecclesias- 
on  him,  and 
Dvoted  head. 


A  SHORT  SKETCH  OF  THE  REFORMATION.      25 

Luther  does  not  appear,  at  first,  to  have   had  any 
thing  more  in  view  than  to  opp    e  the  abominable 
trafiic  of  iudulgcncies,   and   to  reform  some  of  thV 
^    superstitions  and  errors  oi popery  ;  but  his  bold  and 
I    successAil  attempts  flew  on  the  wings  of  Aime,  to  dis- 
I    tant  regions  :  multitudes  were  encouraged  by  his  ex~ 
I    ample  to  throw  off  the  popish  yoke;  and  the  princi- 
I    pies  of  the  Reformation  were  hcncefbrward  propaga- 
i    ted  with  an  amazing  rapidity  through  all  the  coun- 
tries of  Europe.     The   powerful  elector  of  Saxony 
,    soon   took  him  under  his  patronage ;  and  the  sove- 
l  reigns  of  other  kingdoms  invited  him  and  his  associ- 
ates into  their  dominions.     We  see  moreover,  a  par- 
ticular act  o^ Providence,  v  hich  contributed  not  a  lit- 
tle to  extend  the  influence  of  this  grand  cause  ;  x\z 
the  art  of  printing,  which  was  discovered  but  half  a 
century  before  the    days  of  Luther;  and   thus,  by 
gradual  steps,  proceeded  that  memorable  revolution 
m   Europe,  called   the   REFORMATION.      The 
fruits  of  that  glorious  Era  are  now  reaped  by  the  dif- 
ferent  denominations  of  which  we  purpose  to  treat 
m  the  following  pages ;  and  as  all  of  them,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Methodists,  professedly  adhere   to 
the  system  of  divinity  adopted  by  the  celebrated  John 
Calvin,  we  shall  first  give  the  reader  a  brief  detail  of 
these  doctnncs,  and  then  particularize,  in  their  order, 
those  who  hold  them,  »s  their    fundamental   prince 
pieSi 


Tin:  DOCTRINES  OF  CALVLV. 


DOCmiJVES  OF  CJLVIJY. 


.!    I 


John  Calvm  was  born  at  Nogen,  in  Picardy,  in  the 
rear  1509.    He  first  studied  the  civil  law,  and  was  af- 

v!ar,t7lr-  P"'"'""""'  ''^^"'"''''  ="  ««--' "'  'he 
ycarl536  Hisgemus,  learning,  eloquence  and  piety, 
rendered  h,m  respectable  even  in  the  eyes  of  Ws  en- 
emies  The  name  of  Calvinist  seems  to  Jiave  been  giv- 
en  at  first  to  those  who  embraced,  not  merely  the  doc 
<nne,  but  the  church  government  and  discipline  estab- 

rats      R?"""'  ':,  '"""«"'■*  "'^'»  '''•°'°  "">  Luthe- 
rans.    But    smce  the  meeting  of  the  synod  of  Dort 

tl  e  name  has  been  chiefly  applied  to  those  who  em-' 

brace  h.s  Lading  views  of  the  gospel,  to  distin^ish 

ught  by  Calvm  were  the  same  as  those  of  Augus- 

,  art  reduced  to  five  articles;  and   whirfi     " 
romthe,r  being  the  principal  points  dilcussed  a  ^ 

pomts     '^hcse^ve,pred.s,.natlon,  particular  redein. 
hon.  Mat  d,pravtt,j,  effectual  callt,rg,   and  the  T,? 
pmcvmmce  of  the  Saints.  """ 

1'he  following  statement  is  taken  principally  from 
'-  -ntmg.  of  Calvin,  and  the  decisions  of  Dor'  21 


er  ( 

,    VCSfS 

God 
^  Wo] 

so  ai 

fit  is  : 

f  not  ( 


^s^^ 


LVI.V. 


iLVIJV. 


in  Picardy,  in  the 
il  law,  and  was  af- 
.  at  Geneva,  in  the 
quence  and  piety, 
he  eyes  of  his  en- 
to  Jiave  been  giv- 
»t  merely  the  doc- 
i  discipline  estab- 
1  from  the  Lutfie- 
^e  synod  of  Dort, 
o  those  who  em- 
h  to  distinguish 
ading  principles 
■hose  of  Augus- 
those   who  are 
2d  from  the  Ar- 
2s;  and  which, 
discussed  at  the 
ninated  the  five 
rticular  redemp- 
and  the  certain 


nncipally  from 
isofDort,  com- 


THE   DOCTRIXES    OF   CALYIN.  ^1 

-thout  the  ,cas.  foresight  of  faith,  |  o     ^I'T; 
any  cond,..o„  performed  hy  ,he  ere^aturc    ard  Ih" 
the  rest  o   manfemd  he  was  pleased  to  pas,  bj  3 
orda,„  to  dishonour  and  wrafh,  for  their  sLt^  T 
Fa,sc  of  his  vindictive  justice.'  In  proof  „Tt hi    ht 
alledge  among  many  other  scripture  passages  tS 
lowmg,  "According  as  he  hath  chosen  us  in  H 
fore  the  foundation  of  the  world  2/       ■      .   ^'- 
hoi,  and  without  blame  be;!  e  nit  i:?''?'^  f" 
sa.th  to  Moses  ,  will  have  mercy  :„:;-^;:^ 
ha  e   mercy,   I  will   have  compLion   on  wh  m  I 
"':    \*'"'  ^^P-^on-     So  then  it  is  not  of  Z7jt 
w-lleth    nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but  of  S  J' 
Bheweth  mercy.     Thou  wijt  say  then    lv^,lu' 
yet  find  fault,  for  who  hath  resisted  hs  J/ Na^bt: 
O  man !  who  art  thou  that  repliest  against  GodTsha 
I    •'«  """g  formed  say  to  Him  that  formed  it '  wll 
I  hast  thou  made  me  thus?  Hath  not  the  pott  I  ^ 

;  ~^thec.ay,ofthe  same  lump,   toC^Pr 
ve^el  to  honour  and  another  to  dishonour?     h2 

God  cast  away  his  people  whom  he  foreknew' 
Wo  ye  not  what  the  Scripture  saith  of  Elias?Ev  n 
so  at  th,s  present  time  also  there  is  a  remnant  acror 

;  d.ng  to  the  elecfon  of  grace.     And  if  by  gr^.,^^; 

:  It  IS  no  more  of  works.     What  then ?  ^,arl  hah 
I  not  oblamcd  tha*  which  he  seekoth  for.  hut  (|.e 


m 


»«^ft?ifel^.J 


:1 


28  THE   DOCTRINES   OF   CALVLV. 

election  hath  obtained  it  and  the  rest  are  Uindect. 
Whom  he  did  predestinate,  them   he    also  called 
We  give   thanks  to  God   ahvays  for  you,  brethren' 
beloved  of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the  be- 
gmmng  chosen  you  to  salvation,  through  sanctification 
of  the  spn-it   and  belief  of  the  truth.—As  many  as 
were  ordained  to  eternal  life  believed."     They  think 
also  that  the  greater  part  of  these  passages,  being 
found  in  the  epistolnry  writings,  after  the  pouring  out 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  was  promised  to  guide  the 
apostles  into  al!   t.uth,  is  an  argument  in  favor  of 
their  doctrine.    They  do  not  consider  predestination, 
however,  as  affecting  the  agency  or  accountableness 
of  creatures,  or  as  being  any  rule  of  con  :uct.     On 
the  contrary,  they  suppose  them  to  act  as  freely,  and 
to  be  as  much  the  proper  subjects  of  calls,  warnings 
exhortations,  promises  and  threatnings,  as  if  no  decree' 
existed.     The  connection  in  which  the   doctrine  h 
mtroduced  by  the  divines  at  Dort,  is  to  account  for 
one  sinner's  believing  and  being  saved  rather  than  an- 
other; and  such,  the  Calvinist's  say  is  the  connec- 
tion which  it  occupies  in  the   Scriptures.     With  re- 
spect to  the  conditional  predestination  admitted  by 
the  Armenians,  they  say,  that  an  election  upon  faith 
or  good  works,  foreseen,  is  not  that  of  the  scriptures ; 
lor  that  election  is  there  made  the  cause  of  faith  and 
holiness  and  cannot  for  this  reason  be  the  eil^ct  of 
them.     With  regard  to  predestination  to  death,  they 
*ay,  if  the  question  be.  Wherefore   did  God  decree 
to  punish  those  who  are  punished  ?     The  answer  is 
on  account  of  their  sh,.     But  if  the  question  be    | 


I 


LV. 

est  are  bllndect 
he  also  called, 
you,  brethren, 
th  from  the  be- 
jh  sanctification 
I. — As  many  as 
"  They  think 
passages,  being 
he  pouring  out 

1  to  guide  the 
nt  in  favor  of 
predestination, 
:countablenes3 
con'.uct.  On 
as  freely,  and 
alls,  warnings, 
as  if  no  decree 
e  doctrine  h 

0  account  for 
itlier  than  an- 
5  the  connec- 
s.  With  re- 
admitted by 
on  upon  faith 

2  scriptures ; 

3  of  faith  and 
the  effect  of 
)  death,  they 
God  decree 
le  answer  is. 
question  be 


THE  DOCTRINES  OP  CALVIV.  29 

_  Wherefore  did  he  punish  them  rather  than  others  ? 
I     i  here  .s  no  other  reason  to  be  assigned,  but  that  so  it 
.eemed  good  mh.s  sight.     2nd.  They  maintain  that 
hough  the  death  of  Christ  be  a  most  perfect  sacri- 
ice  and  satisfaction  for  sins,  of  infinite  value,  abun- 
dantly sufficent   to  expiate  the   sins  of  the    whole 
world ;  and  though  on  this  ground  the  gospel  is  to  be 
preached  to  all  mankind  indiscriminately ;  yet  it  was 
to  w  1  of  God  that  Christ  by  the  blood'of  (he  C^ 
.hould  efficaciously  redeem  all  those,  and  those  only 
who  were  from  eternity  elected  to  salvation  and  J. 
en  to  him  by  the  Father.  ^ 

,  ^^^Ivin  does  not   appear  to  have  written  on  this 
subject,    as  a  controversy,    but  his    comments    Z 
scnpture  agree  with  the  above  state.nent.     In  proof 
of  this  article  they  allege  among  others,  the  following 
scripture  passages :  "That  thou  hast  given  hi„.  pe^, 
over  all  flesh,  that  he  should  give  eternal  life  To  a. 
many  as  thou  hast  given  him.-The  good  shepherd 
gn  eth  his  life  for  the  sheep.-I  lay  down  .v    '^t 
the  sheep      He  died  not  for  that  nntion  only,  h, 
that  he  might  gather  together  the  children  of  God 
hat  are  scattered  abroad.^He  gave  himself  for  us 
that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  puri 

He  loved  the  church  and  gave  himself  for  it,    that 
he  m,,h   sanctify  and  cleanse  it  and  present  it  t'o  ^^t 

hjS  for   thou  wast  slam,  and    hast    redeemed  ui 

oGodbythy-blood,outofeverykindi;     t" 
tongue,  and  people,  and  nation.     3d.  They  maintain 

£ 


THE   DOCTRINES    OF   CALVIK, 

that  mankind  are  totally  depraved,  in  consequence 
of  the  fall  of  the  first  man,  who  being  their  public 
head,  his  sm  involved  the  corruption  of  all  his  pos- 
terity :  and  which  corruptiofi  extends  over  the  whole 
soul,  and  renders  it  unable  to  turn  to  God,  or  do  any 
thing  truly  good,  and  cxposeth  it  to  his  displeasure, 
both  in  this  world  and  that  which  is  to  come.     In 
proof  of  this  doctrine,  the  Calvinists  allege,  amonff 
other  scripture  passages,   the   following:     «By  one 
man  sm  entered  into  the  world,  and  death  by  sin; 
and  so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have' 
binned.— By  one  man's  disobedience  many  were  made 
sinners—I  was  born  in  sin,   and  shapen  in  iniquity. 
God  saw  that  the  wickedness  of  man  was  great  upon 
the  earth,  and  that  every   imagination  «f  his  heart 
\vas  only  evil  continually.-God  looked  down  from 
heaven  upon  the  children  of  men,    to  see  if  there 
were  any  who  did  understand,  that  did  seek  God. 
Every  one  of  them  is  gone  back ;  they  are  altogether 
become  filthy;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no  not 
one.— Aiid  you  hath  he  quickened,  who\vere  dead 
m  trespasses   and  sins.     Wherein  in  time  past  ye 
Avalked  according  to  the  course  of  this  world,  amoL 
whom    also  we   all  had  our  conversation  in  times 
past  m  the  lust  of  our  flesh  fulfilling  the  desires  of 
the  flesh  and  of  the  mind,  and  were   by  nature  the 
children  of  wrath  even  as  others."  4th.  They  main 
tarn  that  all  whom  God  hath  predestinated  unto  life 
he  IS  pleased  in  his  appointed  time  eflectually  to  call 
by  his  word  and  spirit  out  of  that  state  of  sin  and 
death  ,n  which  they  are  by  nature,  to  grace  and  sal- 


n  consequence 
g  their  public 
jfall  his  po8- 
•ver  the  whole 
jiod,  or  do  any 
is  displeasure, 
to  come.     Jn 
allege,  among 
>g:     "By  one 
leath  by  sin; 
that  all  have 
ny  were  made 
m  in  iniquity. 
as  great  upon 
I  of  his  heart 
I  down  from 
see   if  there 
id  seek  God. 
re  altogether 
good,  no  not 
>  were  dead 
ime  past  ye 
vorld,  among 
tion  in  times 
le  desires  of 
nature  the 
They  main- 
ted  unto  life, 
tually  to  call 
te  of  sin  and 
race  and  sai- 


tlJE  DOCTRINES  OP  CALTIPT.  Jj 

»atio„  by  Jc,„,  Chris..  Tl,ey  admit  that  the  Holy 
Spint,  as  callmg  men  by  (ho  ministry  of  the  gospel, 
may  bo  resisted  and  that  where  thi/i,  the  cas!^. 'tho 
fault  .s  not  ,„  the  g„pel,  „„r  i„  Christ  offered  by 
the  gospel,  nor  in  God  calling  by  the  gospel  and  aj- 
so  confermg  vanous  gifts  „po„  „.em;  but  i^the  call- 
ed themselves."       They  contend,    ho,vever,     that 

where  men  come  at  the  divine  call  and  are  convert- 
od  ,t  „  no,  .     b,  „,,,  .^^j  ,^  ^^^ 

of  their  own  free  w,ll  tliey  made  themse  ves  to  dft 

power  of  darkness  pnd  translate,  them  into  the  king- 
domofh,s  dear  son,  and  whose   regenerating  iJl 

^Z':CcT''1''T'"'""-     ^"P^fof'hisdoc. 
trine  the  Calvmists  allege,  among  olho.^,  the  follow- 

lied  Thi  '  "■'  :'""" ''"  "'''"'' "'-  ^^  "'- 
frel.  n^'^*™''>'''"'»^"''^'i»  the  exceeding 
gieatness  of  his  power  to  us-ward,  who  believe  accorl 
.ng  to  the  working  of  his  mighty  power,  which  he 
wrought  ,n  Christ,  when  he  raifed'him  fro;  Zt^ 
Not  ot  works  lest  any  man  should  boost.  For  we  are  hi. 
workmanship  created  in  Jesus  Christ  unto  good 
r    k        t  '^?°""»-<'°<'  *o  light  to  sLift 

away  tl  e  stony  heart  out  of  their  tJesh,"  &c.     Last- 
ly.    Ibey  maintam  that  those  whom  God  hath  eA 

tCf       Ir       "  "  ''"'*  °^  g^^<=«-     They  admit' 

hat  true  believers  may  fall  partially,  and  wo'uld  M 

-tally  and  fmally,  but  fpr  the  mercy  and  faithfulnei 


I 
4 


i 


I    I 


% 


lif 


S2 


THE  DOCTRINES  OP  CALVIN. 


ofCwl  who  kocpcth  the  feet  of  his  Saints;  also* 
that  he  wfio  bostowctli  the  grace  of  perse vcrancci 
bestowetli  it  by  the  means  of  reading  and  hearin<r 
the  word  ;  meditation,  exhortations,  thrcatnings  and 
promises;  but  that  none  of  these  things  imply  the 
possibility  of  a  believer's  falling  from  a  state  of  justi- 
fication. 

In  proof  of  this  doctrine,  they  allege,  among  oth- 
ers, the  following  scripture  passages  :  "1  will  put  mv 
fear  in  tlieir  hearts  and  they  shall  not  depart    from 
me.     He  that  believeth  and  is  baptised  shall  be  sav- 
ed.    The   water  that  I  shall  give  him,  shall  be  in 
him,  a  well  of  water,  springing  up  into  everlasting 
Iifo.     This  is  the  Father's  will,  that  of  all,  which  ho 
hath  given  me,  1  should  loose  nothing.     This  is  eter- 
nal life  to  know  thee,  the   only  true  God  and  Jesus 
Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent.     Whosoever  is  born  of 
God  doth  not  commit  sin,   for  his  seed  remaineth  in 
him,  and  he  cannot  sin  because  he  is  born  of  God. 
They  went  out  from  us,  but  they  were  not  of  us,  fbr  if    i 
i\icy  had  been  of  us,  they  would,  no  doubt,  have  con-    ' 
tmued  with  us,   but  they  went  out  that  they  might 
be  made  manifest  they  were  not  all  of  us.     Now^'to 
him  that  is  able  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  pre- 
sent  you  faultless   before   the  presence  of  his  glory 
with  exceeding  joy,  to  the  only  wise  God  our  Savior, 
be  glory,  and  majesty,  dominion  and  power,  both  now 
and  ever.  Amen."     Such  were  the  doctrines  of  the 
old  Calvmists,  and  such  in  substance,  are  those  of 
the  present  times.     In  this,  however,  as  in  every  oth- 


I 


4m 


1 


is  SalntR  ;  also* 
f  pcrscvcraiicoi 
iig  and  hearing 
thrcatnings  and 
li'iWf^s,  imply  ihc 
a  state  oi"  justi- 

gr,  among  otli- 
"1  will  put  my 
t  depart  from 
2d  shall  be  sav- 
im,  shall  be  in 
to  everlasting 
f  all,  which  ho 

This  is  etor«      j 
jrod  and  Jesus     1 

.■i 

ever  is  born  of 
i  remaineth  in     I 
born  of  God.     | 
not  of  us,  fur  if     I 
»ubt,  have  con-     j 
at  they  might      I 
us.     Now  to     1 
g,  and  to  pre-  • 
3  of  his  glory 
)d  our  Savior, 
ver,  both  now 
ctrines  of  the 
are  those  of 
in  every  oth«     i 


4 


TUl    DOCTlllNT,«l  OF  CALVIN.  33 

f-r  dcnonnnation,  f liere  are  considerable  shades  ofdif-. 
Ii^rnnce.  Some  think  Calvin,  though  right  in  the 
tn  lin,  yef  carried  things  too  far;  these  are  common- 
ly known  by  the  name  of  Moderate  Calvinists.  0th- 
ors  think  he  did  not  go  far  enou-iij  these  are  known 
by  the  name  of  JJigh  Calvinists, 

It  is   jjroper  to  add,   thnt  the  Calvinistic  system 
includes  ,n  it  the  doctrine  of  threi  co-ordinate  per- 
sons m  tho   Godhead  in  o  m  nature,  and  of  two  na- 
tures ,n  Jesus  Christ,  foi  nnug  one  person.     Justifica- 
tion  by  fa.th  alone,  or  justification    by  the   imputed 
righteousness  of  Christ,  forms,  also,  an  essential  part 
of  this   system.     They  suppose,    that  on   the    one 
hand,  our  s.ns   are  im])uted  to  Christ  ;  and  on  the 
other,  that   we   are  justified   by  the    imputation  of 
Chnst  s  righteousness  to  us.     That  is,  Christ  the  in- 
nocent was  treated  by  God  as  if  he  were  guilty,  that 
we  might,  out  of  regard  to  what  he  did  andsulFered, 
be  treated  as  if  we  were  innocent  and  righteous. 
^    Calvinism  originally  subsisted  in  its  greatest  purity, 
mthc  city  of  Geneva,  from  which  place  it  was  first 
propagated  into  Germany,  France,  the  United  Prov- 
inces and  Britain.     In   France,  it  was    abolished  by 
the  edict  of  Nantz,  in  1685.     It  has  been   the   pre- 
vailing rehgion  in   the   United   Provinces  ever  since 
ir)71.     The  theological    system,   of  Calvin,  was  a- 
dopted  and  made  the  public  rule  of  faith,  in  Enijland, 
under  the  reign  of  Edward,   VI.     The  Church  of 
Scotland    also,  was  modeled  by  John  Knox,   agree- 
able  to  the  doctrine,  nVc.  and/or.^  of  occlesiaHicl 


I 


li-r 


34 


THE  DOCTRfNES  Of  CALtlr?. 


government  established   at  Geneva.     In  Englantf, 
Calvinism  had  been  on  the  decline,  from  the  time  of 
queen  Elizabeth,  until  about  sixty  years  ago,  when 
It  was  again  revived,  and  has  been  on  the  increase 
ever  since.     The  major  part  of  the  Clergy,  indeed, 
are  not  Calvmists,  though  the  articles  of  the  Church 
of  England  are  calvinistical.     It  deserves  to  be  rt- 
marked,   however,   that  Calvinism  is  preached  in  a 
considerable  number  of  churches  in  London ;  in  near- 
iy  all  the  dissenting  meetings  of  the  Presbyterians, 
baptists,  and  Independents ;   and  in  all  the  chapels 
of  Whitfield,   Lady   Huntington,  and  others  of  that 
class.     In  Scotland,  it  continues  also  to  exist  as  the 
established  religion ;  and  within  a  few  years  it  has 
much  revived  in  that  country,  through  the  influence 
of  Mr.  Haldane  and  others;  but  as  those  among 
whom  this  revival  has  taken  place,  are  not  of  the  es- 
tablished  church,  they  have  been  treated  with  indif- 
ference by  the  clergy,  and      iled  Haldanists. 
^    Calvin  considered  every  church  as  a  separate  and 
independent  body,  invested  with  the  power  of  legis- 
lation  for   itself.     He    proposed   that  it  should\e 
governed  by   presbyteries  and   synods,  composed  of 
clergy  and  laity,  without  bishops,  or  any  clerical  su. 
bordmation;  and  maintained  that  the  province  of  the 
civil  mn.^istrate  extended  only  to  its  protection  and 
outward  accommodation.     He  acknowledged  a  real, 
though   spiritual    presence  of  Christ,    in  the   eu- 
charist,  and  he  confined  the  privilege  of  communion 
to  pious  and  regenerate  believers.*     These  senti- 


the 


.     In  Englancf, 

rom  the  time  of 

ars  ago,  when 

on  tlie  increase 

Clergy,  indeed, 

of  the  Church 

Tves  to  be  re- 

preached  in  a 

)ndon ;  in  near- 

Presbjterians, 

all  the  chapels 

others  of  that 

to  exist  as  the 

w  years  it  has 

h  the  influence 

those  among 

not  of  the  es- 

ted  with  indif- 

ianisls, 

I  sepjirate  and 
>ower  of  legis- 

it  should  be 
ij  composed  of 
ny  clerical  su^ 
rovince  of  the 
protection  and 
ledged  a  real, 

in  the  eu- 
'f  communion 
These  senti- 

ow  is  the  g-old  be* 
r  the  present  d^. 


«ll/RCH   OP   ENGLAND* 


^& 


ments,  however,  are  not  imbibed  by  aU  who  are 
called  Calvmists. 


cHuncH  OF  EmLjjs-n. 


When  and  by  whom,  Christianity  was  first  fntrc 
duced   mto  Bntam,  cannot,  perhaps,  be  exactly  as- 

andRap,n,   m  his  History  of  England,  informs  us, 

hat  before  the  birth  of  our  SavLr,  the  Britains^ 

like  the  rest  of  the  world,  (thfe  Jews  only  excepted) 

ZCT:I^T'''''  '^'^  notonly  worshiped  false 
g^s;  but^hadasmany  and  as  extravagam  ones  a. 
the  Egyptians   themselves:  and  though  it    be  di/Ii. 

^  pels  nK"°"J'^  P^^^^*^  time  when,lind  the  very 
,5  person  by  whom,  yet,  all  historians  arc-  agreed, /A^ 

the  gospel  n^as  introduced  into  Grm  Britain  soon  af. 

uZ  Tr^'f"'^  ,  ,,^  ^j,^^  ^j^^  ^  J 

ne,  and  for«  of  worship,  as  delivered  by  the  Apos- 

ties,  were  maintamed  in  England,  and  the  Romish 

fhirr"*         'T''^'"^'^  ^^^^^"^^^  withstood,  till 

LnaT".,  'I"*.^"^^'^'  ,bout  the  year  448: 
^o.n  after  this,  Austin,  the  Monk,  with  about  fortr 
more,  were  se.t mto  England,  by  GREGORY,  bi^h' 


iiji! 


iiri 


36 


CHl/RCH    OP   ENGLAND. 


Hi 


op  of  Rome,  to  preach  the  gospel  ;  and  from  this 
period  we  find  Popery,  with  all  its  errors,  every 
where  prevalent,  in  England,  until  WicklitFe  was 
raised  up  by  divine  providence  to  refute  them.  This 
champion  of  the  truth  was  educated  at  Oxford,  in 
the  reign  of  Edward  III.  and  was  the  first  person  in 
England  who  publicly  questioned,  and  boldly  refuted 
the  doctrines  of  Popery. 

The  Church  of  England  broke  off  from  the  Rom- 
ish Church  in  the  time  of  HENRY  VIII.  when  (a? 
has  been  already  related)  Luther  had  began  the 
Reformation  in  Germany.      This  Prince,  in  early 
life,  and  during  the  former  part  of  his  reign,   was  a 
bigoted  Papist  ;  he   burnt  the  famous  Fyndal,   who 
made   one  of   the  first   and   best    English  transla- 
tions of  the  Mw   Testament,  and  wrote  fiercely  in 
defence  of  the  seven  sacraments  against  Luther  ;  for 
which  the  Pope  honoured  him  with  the  title  of  Dc- 
fender  of  the  Faith!  This  title  is  retained  by  the  King? 
of  England  even  to  the  present  day.     Henry,  falling 
oiit  with  the  Pope  about  his  marriage,  renounced  his 
juri^idlction  and  supremacy,  took  the  government    of 
ecclesiastical  affairs  into  his  own  hand,  and  was  de- 
clared by  the  PariiHcaent  and  People,  Supreme  Head, 
on  earth,   of  the   Church  of  En<jrlcmd,     Such  of  my 
readers,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  history  of  this 
Prince's  life  and  reign,  may  judge  how  far  BEijEmoT 
is  correct,  when  he  says,  Henry  renounced  the  do-, 
minion  of  the  Pope,  in  order  to  become  a  Pope  him- 
self*    It  is  evident,  however,   that   he  retained  the 

*  Bcncaiot's  Hist.  vc].  I,  p.  42. 


I  ;  and  from  this 
its  errors,  every 
il  Wickliffe  was 
fute  them.  This 
ed  at  Oxford,  in 
he  first  person  in 
id  boldly  refuted 

ffrom  the  Rom- 
VIII.  when  (a?i 
had  began  the 
Prince,  in  earlv 
his  reign,  was  a 
us  Fvndal,   who 
English  transla- 
rote   fiercely   in 
nst  Luther  ;  for 
the  title  ofDc- 
led  by  the  King? 
Henry,  falling 
3,  renounced  his 
government    of 
id,  and  was  de- 
,  Supreme  Head, 
Such  of  my 
5  historv  of  this 
►w  far  BeSewct 
ounced  the  do^ 
ne  a  Pope  him- 
lie  retained  thf) 


I 


(mURCII    Of    ESGLAjfu.  37 

jTcuecit  part  of  the  supcrstitics  errors  along  with 
the  persecuting  spirit  of  tlic  Koniisli  churcli." 

TI,e  .loctrincs  of  tlie  Cliurch  of  Englan.l,  winch  are 
CO,,  .,„ed  ,„  the  39  Articles,  are  certai.1^  Calvinis- 
t.oa  ;  though  th,s  has  been  denied  by  some  ^/oA™ 
«.-,te>-s,  espeeially  by  Dr.  Kipliug.  These  articles 
vere  loumled,  for  the  most  part,  upon  a  body  of  ar^ 
des  comFled  and  published  in  the  reign  of  ED- 
tvAUU,  VI.  son  and  successor  to  Henry.  Thcv 
v.-cre  first  passed  in  the  convocation,  and  connrmed 
by  r^.d  authority,  in  ,562.  They  were  afterwards 

The  I  '  '"  ^■""'  '"'•  ^"''  "«=''"  by  Charles 
•  Ihe  law  requnes  a  subsc-iption  to  these  articles, 
of  .11  pei^on^  who  are  admitted  into  holy  orders 
"  "'^  ™"f«  of  the  last  century,  disputes  arose' 
amo,^.  the  clergy  respecting  the  propriet/of  subvert 
bu,g  to  any  human  formula  of  religious  sentiments: 
Anapphcafon  lor  ,ts  removal    was  made  to  Parlia- 

<l  the  most  pubhc  discuss.on,  in  the   house  of  Com- 
mons, but  was  rejected  in  the  house  of  Lords. 

The  government  of  the  Church  of  FnM,„  i  • 
-Pl;tl.e  king  is  the  supreme  heal'TtfalX 

ol  the  b^hops  were  converted  by  William,  the  Con- 
^"eror,  „,to  ten.poral  baronies;  so  that  every  pi 
lale  has  a  seat  and  a  vote  in  the  house  ofpL 
Dr.  H0.0..V  ,  however,  i„  a  sern,„n,  preached  A-om 
'h.^  te.t-..My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world."  insisted 

P 


«^ 


Hi 


BmaiiiiliwiN'j. 


It'        ^ 


f!  li! 


38 


CHURCH   OF   EN-CtAKI>. 


that  t),c  clergy  had  no  pretensions  to  temporal  juris- 
diction; winch  gave    rfee   to    various    publications, 
ermecl,  by  v  ,y  of  eminence,  the  Bangorian  Con' 
'rovers,  ;hec.u.e  Ho.n..v  was  then  bishop  of  Ban- 

lead  called  a  L,furgy.     It  was  composed  in   1547, 
and  has  undergone  several   alterations,  the  last  of 

ti  7"  'I  ^"-  ^'"'"'  "'^'  "■"«''  ^«-™l  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  amend  the  liturgy,  arti- 
cles, and  some  other  things  relating  to  the  internal 
goveinment,  but  without  effect. 

The  members  of  the  Church  of  England  are  cal- 
led  tpiscopahans,  because  they  are  subject  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  diocesan  bishops.  •     • 

The  controversy  respecting  episcopacy  commen- 
ced soon  after  the  reformation;  and  has  been  agita- 
ted with  great  warmth,  between  the  Episcopalians 
on  the  one  side,  and  the  Presbyterians  and  Indepen- 
dents  on  the  other.    Among  the  Protestant  churches 
ubroad,  those  which  were  reformed  by  Luther  and 
his  associate,,  are,  in  general,  episcopal ;  whilst  such 
as  stnclly  follow  the  doctrines  of  Calvin  have,  for 
thfl  most  part,  thrown  offthe  order  of  bishops,  as  one 
ol  the  corruptions  of  popery.     I„  England,  however 
the  controversy  has  been  considered  as  of  greater 
importance  than  on  the  continent.    It  has  been  stren- 
uously maintained,  by  one  party,  that  the  episcopal 
order  is  essential  to  the  constitution  of  the  church 
and    by    others,  that  it  is  a  pernicious  encroach- 


[>. 


to  temporal  junV 
ous    publications, 
2  Bangorian  Con- 
n  bishop  of  Ban- 
is  a  jDublic  form 
iposed  in   1547, 
ions,  the  last  of 
time,  several  at- 
lie  liturgy,  arti- 
to  the  internal 

England  are  cal- 
2  subject  to  the 


»pacy  commen- 
has  been  agita- 
2  Episcopalians 
s  and  Indepen- 
stsmt  churches 
by  Luther  and 
al ;  whilst  such 
alvin  have,  for 
)ishop3,  as  one 
and,  however, 
as  of  greater 
as  been  stren- 
-hc  episcopal 
the  church, 
lus  encroach- 


CHURCH    OP    ENGLAND. 


39 


ment  on  the  rights  of  men,  for  which  there  is  no  au 

h  I^novv.,  .hat  .  ,o„,tH,  do  Jctl  LX:t 
unnecessary:  but  that  the  reader  mav  ea,n  tL 
pnncpal  objections  which  Dissenters  manif  st  li»! 
the  order  of  that  church   r  .l„ll       k-  ^ 

ofal^H„.     II  ''*  ^'""  ^"bjoi"  an  extract 

a  B  „  T  "^  '"  '"  ^'^'''""P^'  Clergyman,  by 

we^'  a"""T"™  '"  Philadelphia.  ""Nor  are 
wc  at  all  averse  to  a  reconcihation  with  the  church 
o  England,  provided  it  can   be  proved  by  the  ho 

huLn  ""'  °^'^'""'=  "PPoi-Xm^nt,  and  not  of 

hum  n  mven..o„ :  and,  since  you,  yourself,  are  the  per- 

.on  that  hath  given  us  the  invitation,  and  hath  prom- 
ised to  show  us  that  our  objccliom  arc  stnmWn.  blocks, 
m^deby  our  wills,  and  not  by  our  reason ,  and  ^^^.  under- 
standing  that  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  head, 
t.ng,  ord,  and  law-giver  of  his  church,  whom  all  arc 
bound  to  obey,  under  the  severe  penally  of  an  utterex- 
t-rpation  from  among  the  people  of  God ;  and  that  his 
aws  and  w,  1  are  only  to  be  found  in,  and  known   bv 
*he  sacred  bcr.ptures.  which  are  the  only  supreme, 
sufficient,  and  standing  rule  of  all  faith  and  worship- 
and  not  understanding  the  constitution  of  your  church 
with  all  the  orders,  officers,  worship  and  service,  at 
tins  day  m  use  and  maintained  therein,  to  be  agreea- 
ble thereto,  and  warranted  thereby,  hath  been  the 
cause  of  our  separation  from  her,  and  is  the   objcc- 
tioir  we  have  to  make,  or  the  stumbling-block  which 
lies  m  o»r   way.  tosnch  an  union  and  communion  a<. 


^'9vrvmimciw^'?*'-t^-^)^M 


40 


CHURCH    OF    ENGLAND. 


yoTi  desire.    We,  tliercforc,  Jiope  and  expect,  accar- 
ding  to  your  promise,  that  you   ^vill   cndearour  it* 
removal,  by  showinfr  us  fi-om  holy  Scriptures,  these 
two  things  as  absolutely  necessary'  in  order    there- 
unto :     1st.  That  the  formation  of  your  church,  with 
all  the  orders,  oflficers,  rites,  and  ceremonies,  now  in 
use  and  practised  therein,  are  of  divine  institution ; 
particularly,  that   the   church  of  Christ  under   the 
New-Testa?nent,  may  consist  or  be  made  up  of  a 
mixed  multitude,  and  their  seed;  even  all   that  arc 
members    of  a  nation,  who  are  willing  to  go  under 
the  denomination  of  cliristlans,   whether   they  are 
godly  or  ungodly,   holy  or  profane  ;  that  lords,  arch- 
bishops, and  diocesan  lords,  bishops,  such  as  are  now 
m  Er:'ind,  are  of  divine  institution  and  appolntmcni ; 
that  the  government  of  the  church  of  Clirlst,  under 
the  gospel,  is  to  be  prelatical,  according  as  it  is  prac- 
tised this  daj  in  your  church ;  and  that  your  ecclesl- 
astjcal  courts  are  of  divine  appointment;  that  partic- 
ular churches  or  congregations,  with  their  niinisterg 
or  elders,  who  have  power  and  authority  to  receive- 
persons  into  membership,  have  not  likewise  authori- 
ty, by  Matthew   XVIII.  15—18,  and  I.  Corinthians, 
V.  to  execute  church  censure^  and  oxcommunication 
upon  miscreants,  swearers,  drunkards,  liars,  adulter- 
ers, thieves,    atheists,  &c.  &c.  but  that  it  is  of  divine 
appointment,  tJjat  they  must  be  presented  to  their 
ordinaries,  and  only  proceeded  against  in  your  eccle- 
siastical courts ;   that  the  several  offices    of  deans, 
.sub-dean?,  chapters,arch-dcacons,prebendarles,  chstjj. 


X 

11(1  expect,  accar* 
ill  endeavour  h^ 
Scriptures,  these 

in  order    there- 
our  church,  with 
remonies,  now  in 
ivine  institution; 
hrist  under   tlie 
e  niade  up  of  a 
^en  all   that  arc 
lin<^  to  go  under 
let  her   they  are 
Iiat  lords,  arch- 
such  as  are  now 
id  appointment ; 
)fClirist,  under 
ling  as  it  is  prac- 
lat  your  ecclesi- 
nt ;  that  partic- 

their  minister? 
only  to  receive- 
kewise  authori- 
1 1.  Corinthians, 
:cammunicatioi> 
,  hars,  adulter- 
at  it  is  of  divine 
iented  to  their 
:  in  your  eccle- 
ices    of  deans, 
endaries,  chai>-> 


GIirmCH    OP    EXfir,ANT>. 


41 


cellors,  corafnissaries,  officials,  registers,  canons,  petty 
canons,  vicars,  chorals,  apj)aritors,  organists,  vergers, 
sir]ging-nien  and  boys,  septins,  epistlers,  gospelers,  and 
su  Ji  like  offices  and  oificers  of  your  church  and  eccle- 
siastical courts,  are  of  divine  institution,  or  haVe  any 
scripture  Avarrant  to  justify  them,  and  to  bear  them 
harmless  in  the  last  day;  that  unpreaching  ministers 
may  celebrate  the  sacrament  by  scripture  warrant, 
that  their  diiTercnt  apparel  in  time  of  divine  service, 
such  as  hoods,  tippets,  surplices,  &c.  are  of  divine  in- 
stitution, or   have  any  scripture  warrant  under  the 
New-Testament;  that  the  manner  of  the  public  ser- 
vice and  liturgy  of  the  church  of  England,   with  the 
visitation  of  the  sick,  burial  of  the  dead,   churchina 
of  women,    matrimony,  &c.  as  now  in  use,  are  of  di^ 
vine  institution;  that  the  people  ought,  by  tht  rule  of 
God's  word,  audibly  with  the  ministers,  to'say  the  con- 
fession. Lords  prayer,  ai     creed;  and  make  such  an- 
swers  to  the  public  prayei-s,  as  are  appointed  in  the 
book  of  common  prayer;   that  it  is  God's   holy  will 
and  pleasure    that  saint  days  and  holy   days   should 
be  kept  and  observed  by  Christians,  accordii.g  to  the 
use  of  the  church   of  England;   that  instruments  of 
music  are  to  be  used   in  God\s   worship,   under  the 
New  Testament;  that  infant  baj^tism  is  a  duty;  that 
pouring  or  sprinkling  of  water  is  the  right  mamier  of 
baptizing;*  that  your  manner  of  administering  the  sa- 
f raments,  and  signing   with   the  sign  of  the   cross  in 
feaptism  are  of  divine  appointment ;  that  god-fatlicr^ 

"This  ^bjrrfion  is  pqrnliar  to  tW  Baptists  only. 


; 


"^^'^wqB!WittT''^iT?1tgg'fei-'iJ'-y^ 


1:    I         I 


i|j,.;. 


i 


III 


42 


CHURCH    OF   ENGLAND. 


and  go<l-mothers  arc  of  divir^  appomlment.  These 
are  some  of  tlic  things  we  desire  you  to  prove  &  make 
plam  to  us  by  the  holy  scripture..  But  if  the  cse 
be  such  that  some  or  all  of  them  cannot  be  therebr 
proved;  then  the  2d  thing  necessary  to  our  reZ 
c  hat,o„  ^v,th  your  church  ,s,  that  you  wll  give  u, 
clear  and  mfallible  proofs  from  God's  holy'^word 
such  as  will  bear  us  harmless  in  the  last  day  that 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath  given  ,»wer  and  I^thor- 

cons,";*'?'  "',"'  ""'"'  *""^°'=«"°n'  »■•  ^>no<l,  «o  make, 
con  t,t„,e,  ardsetupany  other  laws,  orders,  officers, 
ntes  &  ccremon,es  m  his  church,  besides  those  which 
he  hath  appointed  in  lus  holy  word;  or  to  alter  or 
change  those  wh.ch  he  hath  the.ein  appointed, accord- 
ing as  may,  from  time  to  time,  to  them  seem  conven- 
■ent ;  &  that  we  are  bound  in  conscience  towards  God 
by  the  authority  of  his  word,  to  yield  obedience  there-' 
unto ;  or  whether  it  will  not   rather  be   a  sore    re- 
flection  upon  the  sufficiency  of  -.he  hulv  scriptures 
and  a  high  defamation  of  the  kingb  and  prophetica 
offices    of  Jesus  Christ,  to  suppose  such    a  thin., 
ihus  have  we  in  humihty,  and  without  prejudice 
sent  you  our  objections;  and  if  you  can,  according  to 
your  letter,  shew  them  to  be  stumbling  blocks  made 
by  our  mlh  ,  and  not  by  our  reason,  we  will  be  very 
thankful,  and  you  shall  .not   find  us    obstinate,  but 
ready  to  accept  your  invitation.  But,  until  you  do  so, 
and  prove  the  constitution,  orders,  officers,  rites  and 
ceremonies  of  your  church  to  be  of  God,  it  is  but 
reason  that  you  should  suspend  all  charges   of  schism 
against  ns.  and  desist  from  blaming  us  for  our  peace- 


itment.     These 
to  prove  &  make 
l^ut  if  the  case 
•not  be  tlierebj 
^  to   our  recon- 
ou   will  give  us 
d's   lioly  word, 
2  last  (lay,   tliat 
ver  and  author- 
sjnod,  to  make, 
orders,  officers, 
[es  thoise  which 
!  or  to  alter  or 
pointed,  accord- 
n  seem  conven- 
e  towards  God, 
>edience  there- 
be   a  sore    re* 
oh  scriptures, 
id  prophetical 
such    a  thinff. 
iout  prejudice, 
h  according  to 
?  blocks  made 
e  will  be  very 
obstinate,  but 
itil  you  do  so, 
;ers,  rites  and 
God,  it  is  but 
jes   of  schism 
or  our  peace- 


WrURCH   OF   ENGVAftD. 


43 


ble  separat.on  ;  which  is  all,  at  present,  from  your 
lovmg  fr,cnds,  who  desire  information,  and  unity  a- 
tnong  samts  and  the  churches  peace ;  that  God,  i/alj 
iZ  "'      ^  "^  '^""^^  ^"^  L°^^  JcsusChrist. 

Subscribed  by  us,  members  ofthegenor  I   meet- 
ingm  behalf  of  the  rest. 

March  Uth,  1699. 

"John  Watts, 
Joseph  Wood, 

George  Eaglesfield, 
Samuel  Joxes, 
George  Eaton, 
Thomas  Bibb."* 

Thus  we  see  what  was  the  cause  of  dissension 
from  the  church  of  England,  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury;   and,   notwithstanding  this  church   has   beeq 
highly    favoured,    at   different   periods    with    the 
most  eminent  divines  that  any  church  can  boast  t 
Jtill  the  same  offices,  officers,  rites,  and  ceremonies  re- 
mam  equally  unintelligible  to  the  studious  reader  of 
»acrcd  oracles.    Many  of  the  above  objections,  how- 
ever, are  wmked  at,  by  the  more  candid  dissenters 
of  the  present  day ;  and  did  the  clergy  (who  readi- 

♦Benedict's  Hist,  of  the  Baptists,  vol.  II. 

t  How  far  this  may  be  said  of  the  Province  nf  1V^»  n,  r.     •  i. 
iiic  present  day,  let  the  reader  determine  ftrunswicfe  u» 


44 


li^^fl 


M 


iiiii 


ill 


HMI 


rHUlUil    OF    KNdLANt). 


ly  declare  "lliut  {/icy  arc  moved  ami  caiUd  Inj  ihe  Hot  if 
GJmt  to  the  work  of  the  miidstn/,'')  l)iit  preach  ia 
their  j)nl{)ils,  and  practise  in  tlieirhvcrs  (he  doctrinci 
to  which  they  do  moal  solrmnli/  subscnbc  before  God, 
JnrrcLs,  and  J/t-//,  hiinthed;,  wouhl,  nndoul)U3dl3,  re- 
main in  the  church  of  En..;Iand,  who  are  otherwise 
obh'ged  to  withdraw. 

I  cannot,  indeed,  think  that  any  preaching  will  ],e 
eflectual  in  bringing  again  "those  that  are  clean  es- 
caped iVoni  them  who  liv  e  in  crror,^'  hui,  in  iny  hum- 
l)le  opinion,  the  most  sure  and   certain  method,   for 
tlic  episco{)aI  clergy,  to  prevent  disscrsions  from  tlir 
church,  m  future,  would  be  to  declare  the  whole  conn- 
selofGod,  to   preach   the  ^Wnwcs  of  ori<nnal  c/,„ 
of  man's  total  depravity,  and  his  moral  emnity  against' 
Ood,  the  necessity  of  regeneration  or  the  new  birth, 
of  bemg  cfiectually  called,  out  of  darkness  into  nuir- 
velloushght,  of  repentance  unto  life,  of  a  saving  fail  b 
in  Jesus  Christ,  of  justification   by   faith   alone,   and 
tlic  necessity  of  personal  holiness,  in  lite  and  conver- 
sation,   as    evidences  of  the    above,  &c.  kc.  kc.  all 
which  are  admirably  set  forth  in  the   service   book 
and  39  Ariicles.-Should  the  preaching  of  these  fun' 
daincntal  doctrines  of  the  church,  cause  any  to  leave 
her  communion  in  future,  it  will  not  be,  (as  usual) 
the  humble  followers  of  Christ,  but   the  carnal  and 
P'ofane,  whose  itching  ears  cannot  endure  sound  doc- 
trine, 


I 


oi 
fa 
nc 
bi 

V€ 

as 
ik 
ah 
eh 
de 
pr( 
of 
ke( 

|ed 
tol 
to 
unr 
mo 


i  min 


CHURCH    OF    ENGLAND. 


•ft/A  .7  Inj  ihe  Hotif 
)  luit  proacli  in 
cs,  I  ho  (loctrinfvi 
i'ibc  bt'ibrc  God, 
ndouhLcdly,  re- 
►  arc  otherwise 
* 

reachiiii;-  will  ])e 
it  are  clean  es- 

I'lit,  Ininy  hum- 
In  method,  ibr 
Ji'sions  from  the 
tJie  whole  conn- 
oi'  original  sin, 
1  enmity  atrainst 
•  the  new^  birth, 
kness  into  mar- 
of  a  saving  fail U 
litli  alone,  and 
liie  and  conver- 

&c.  (^c.  &c.  all 

service   book, 

ig  of  these  fun- 

se  any  to  leave 

be,  (as  usual) 

the  carnal  and 
lure  sound  doc« 


4ij 


Ep..copacy  ,s  established  by  law,  in  the  Province 
ofNew.Brunsw.ck,  and  although  dissenters  are   so 
I    ar  tolerated,  yd  are  they  in  no  wise   encouraged, 
nor  allowed  any  help  from  the  Province-Treasury  to 
^  bu.ld  phices  of  worship.     That  public  purse,  howe- 
ver,  (which  undoubtedly  belongs  to  dissenters  as  well 
as    churchmen)   is  always  open,  when  one,  two  or 
Ihrec  hundred  pounds  are  wanted  by  a  few  individu- 
als, m  any  part  of  the  Province,  to  build  an  Episcopal 
church!   Th,s  part  ality  is  not  to  be  ascribed^o  a^ny 
defect  m  the  established  laws  of  the  Province,  but 
proceeds  from  the  management  of  alTairs  in  the  House 
oi  Assembly;  a  matter  which  dissenters  will  no  doubt 
keep  ,0  view  at  the  next  general  election.     The 
iuke.  warm  md.flerence  of  the  church  clergy,  ha.  open- 
cd  the  eyes  of  many  already,  and  Providence  seems 
to  have  sent  one  gentleman  of  that  order  (in  mercy^ 
to  the  county  of  Charlotte,  who,  if  spared,  will  soon 
unmask  htmsejf  and  brethren.     He  is  likely  to  make 
more  dissenters  in  one  mo.th,  than  all  the  sectarian 
ministers  in  the  Province  have  made  for  many  years ' 


i 


49 


PRESBYTERIANS! 


PRESB  YTERUJVS. 


m 


For  a  full  account  of  the  origin  and  principles  of 
this  denomination,  the  reader  is  refered  to  a  pam- 
phlet, lately  published  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burns,  Min- 
ister  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  in  the  city  of  St.  John. 
We  shall  merely  state,  under  this  head,  a  few  of  the 
most  essential  tenets,  adhered  to  by  the  Presbyteri- 
ans.   Their  form  of  church  government  was  brouo-ht 
from  Geneva,  by  John  Knox,  the  celebrated  Scotch 
Reformer;  and  (like  every  other  sect)  they  main- 
tain theirs  to  be  the  only  form  of  government  adopt- 
ed by  the  Apostles  and  primitive  christians.     They 
acknowledge  the  authority  of  Kirk  Sessions,  Presby- 
teries, Synods,  and  a  General  Assembly.     They  be- 
lieve  tiiat  the  authority  of  their  ministers  to  preach 
the  gospel — to  administer  the  sacrament,  and  to  feed 
the  flock  of  Christ,  is  derived  from  the  Holy  Ghost 
by  the  imposition  of  the  hands   of   the  presbyter}'. 
Tiieir  doctrines  are  purely  calvinistic,   and  may  be 
seen  in  a  book   called  the    Westminsttr  Confession  of 
faith,  with  the  ^Issembly's  larger  and  shorter  cate^ 
ehisms  ;h\it  as  we  are  told,  1)/  the  above  Rev.  Gentle- 
man, that  "the  Articles  of  the  (Presbyterian)  Church  ; 


cone 

to  tl 

man 

\  able 

J  or  w 

of  hi 

and  1 

^ins, 


(1  principles  of 
Bred  to  a  pana- 
)r.  Burns,  Min- 
city  of  St.  John, 
d,  a  few  of  the 
ihe  Presbyteri- 
nt  was  brought 
sbrated  Scotch 
ct)  they  main- 
srnment  adopt- 
istians.     They 
!Ssions,  Presby- 
ly.     They  be. 
iters  to  preach 
)nt,  and  to  feed 
le  Holy  Ghost, 
le  presbyter}% 
'y   and  may  be 
'  Confession  of 
I  shorter  cate-- 
;  Rev.  Gentle- 
erian}ChurcIi  I 


I  PRF-SBYTFRIArfS.  47 

of  Scotland,  have  an  anti-calvinistic  sense—that  in 
this  acceptation  they  are  subscribed  by  a  majority  of 
herclcrgy,"  wo  shall  insert  a  few  quotations  from 
the  said  articles,  and  leave  the  reader  to  judge  for 
himself. 

"  By  the  decree  of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of 
his  glory,  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated  un- 
to everlasting  life,  and  others  fore-ordained  unto  ever- 
lasting death."*     "  These  angels  and  men,  thus  pre- 
destinated and  fore-ordained,  are  particularly  and  un- 
changeably designed,  and  their  number  is  so  certain 
and  defmite,  that  it  cannot  be  either  diminished  or 
increased."+     «  Those  of  mankind  that  are  predesti- 
nated unto  life,  God,  before  the   foundation  of  the 
world  was  laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and  immuta- 
ble purpose,  and  the  secret  council   and  good   plea- 
sure of  his  will,  hath  chosen  in  Christ  unto  everlast- 
ing glory,  out  of  his  mere  free  grace  and  love,  with- 
out any  foresight  of  faith  or  good  works,  or  persever- 
ance m  them,  or  any  other  thing  in  the  creature,  as 
^  conditions  or  causes  moving  him  thereunto,  and  all 
to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  grace."{     «  The  rest  of 
mankind,  God  was  pleased,  according  to  thr  un  ;carch- 
:  able  council  of  his  own  will,  whereby  iie  extendeth 
:  or  withholdeth  mercy  as  he  pleaseth,  for  the  glory 
of  his  sovereign  power  over  his  creatures,  to  pass  by, 
and  to  ordain  them  to  dishonoui  and  wrath  for  their 
;  *gins,  to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  justico.")| 

*  Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  III.  Art.  3. 
t  Art.  4,         t  Art,   5,        H  Art.  T 


48 


I'KESBYTERrANS. 


"All  those  whom  God  hath   predestinated  imfa 
iifo,  and  those   only,  he  is  pleased  in  his  appointed 
and  accepted   time,   cfferfually  to  call  by  his  word 
and  spirit  out  of  that  state  of  sin  and  death  into  which 
tliey  arc  by  nature,  to  grace  and  salvation  by  JcsuJ 
Christ;  enlightening  their  minds  spirituallv  and  sav- 
ingly to  understand  the   things  of  God;  taking  away 
their  hearts  of  stone,  and  giving  unto  them  hearts  of 
ilesh;  renewing  their   wills,    and   by  his  almighty 
power   determining    them  to  that  which  is  good ; 
and  eirectually  drawing  them  to  Jesus  Christ;  yet 
so  as  they  come  most  freely,  being  made   willing  by 
liis  grace."* 

"  God  does  not  leave  all  men  to  perish  In  the  state 
of  sin  and  misery,  into  which  they  fell  by  the  breach 
of  the  first  covenant,  commonly  called  the  covenant 
of  works  ;  but  of  his  mere  love  and  mercy  delivered 
his  elect  out  of  it,  and  bringeth  them  into  an  estate 
of  salvation  by  the  second  covenant,  commonly  called 
the  Covenant  of  Gracc,"||  and  so  on. 

^  To  these  extracts  I  shall  subjoin  an  Act  of  the 
General  Assembly,  which  deserves  to  be  copied  ia 
letters  oCgold;  and  may  serve  to  convince  the  rea- 
der, not  only  that  the  fundamental  principles  of  the 
Presbyterians  are  purely  scriptural,  but  likewise 
J^at  they  were  truly  favored  with  holy  and  zealous 
^nmtevs  in  the  last  century,  whatever  the  majority 
oi  then- C/crgy  may  have  turned  to  in  the  present  daif. 

*  Confess,  of  Faith,  Chap.  X.  Art.  1. 
Lir.  Qat.     Am.  to  (I'lostioa  JJ. 


fo 

€S 

0|; 

I    er 
im 

CO] 
COI 

pre 

tici 

gai 

isnn 

An 

ser 

sity 

pre 

oft 

Goc 

ncc< 

I  riorh 

) 

I  wor 

'    the 

fron 

life  ; 

Chri 


cdcstinated  unfa 
in  \m  appointed 
call  by  his  word 
leath  into  which, 
tlvation  bv  Jesu« 
ritually  and  sav- 
>d ;  taking  away 
)  them  hearts  of 
>7  his  almighty 
which  is  good  ; 
!sus  Christ  J  yet 
lade   willing  by 

•ish  In  the  state 
by  the  breach 
d  the  covenant 
icrcy  delivered 
I  into  an  estate 
>mmonly  called 

an  Act  of  the 
o  be  copied  ul  | 
ivince  the  rea-  '| 
inciples  of  the 
but  likewise  { 
y  and  zealous  - 
r  the  majority 
le  present  datf,      [^ 


PRESBYTERIANS. 


49 


ACT  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF 
THE  CHURCH  OF  SCOTLAND. 

EuiMiuiiGH,  Mav  21,  J  736. 

"The  General  Assembly,  being  moved  with  zea! 
*or  the  honour  of  God  and  our  Lord    Jesus    Christ 
<^4H.cially  at  a  time  when  the  Clu-ishan  revelation'  is' 
openly  unpugned,  and    Infidelity,  Deism,  and  other 
errors  so  much  prevail :     They  do  hereby    recom- 
">«"d    to   all  ministers  and    preachers,  seriously    to 
consider   and   observe  the    Directory  of  this  Church 
'concerning  the  preaching  ofthe  word,  which   is   ap- 
Foven  by  the  Gene,-al  Assembly  1(3-15;  and,  in  par- 
t'cular,  that  they  be  careful  to  wai-n  their  hearers  a- 
gainstany  thing  tending    to  Atheism,  Deism,  Arian- 
•sm   Socmiamsm,  Arminianism,  Popory,  Superstition, 
Antmomiamsm,  or  any  other  error;  and  that  in  then- 
sermons  they  insist  frequently  upon  tlie  truth,  neces- 
sity,and  excellency  of  supernatural  revelation  ;  the  su- 
preme Deity  of  the  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  as   well    as 
ol  the   Father,   together  with    the    oneness    of  the 
^od-head;  our  sinful  and  lost  estate  by  nature  ;  the 
necessity  of  supernatural  grace,   andoffnith   in  the 
righteousness    of  Christ,    without    which    iW,    best 
works  cannot  please  God;  and  that   they   n.:.ko    it 
the  great  scope   of  their  sermons,   to  le'ad  sir.ners 
rom  a  covenant  of  works  to  a  covenant  of  grace  for 
blc  and  salvation,  and  from  sin  and  self  to  ,,recious 
'-•lirist.     And  the  Grr.ornI  Asc,,,,,^,  r-rn,MM,ond'=  i. 


50 


PRESBYTERIANS. 


all  who  preach  the  Gospel,  when  they  handle  th« 
<loctrines  of  God's  redeeming  love,  and  of  his  free 
grace  in  the  sanctification  and  salvation  of  sinners, 
the  blessings  of  the  Redeemer's  purchase,  and  priv'- 
lieges  of  the  new  and  better  covenant,  to  study  and 
manage  these  subjects,  so  as  to  lead   their  hearers 
unto  an  abhorrence  of  sin,  the  love  of  God  and  our 
neighbours,  and  the  practice  of  universal  holiness; 
seeing  ,t  ,s  one  great  end  of  the  Gospel,  to  destroy 
the  works  of  the  devil,  and  to  teach  men  to  live  so- 
berly,  righteously,  and  godly,  in  this  present  world. 
Upon   which   account,  it  is  incumbent  on  all  who 
preach  the  Gospel,  to  insist  not  only  upon  the  neces- 
sity and  excellency  of  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  for  salva- 
tion,  but  also  upoii^the  necessity  of  repentance  for 
sm,  and  reformation  from  h  ;  and  to  press  the  prac 
tice  of  all  moral  duties,  both  with  respect  to  th. 
first  andsecond  table  of  the  law,  as  indispensably  ne- 
cessary,m  obedience  to  God's  command,   to   testify 
our  gratitude  to  him,  to  evidence  the  smcerity  of  our 
faith  and  for  the  benefit  of  human  society,  the  adoT 

;ng  the  profession  of  religion,  and  making  us  IT; 
ioret..n.^|J,,^^^^^ 


And  the  Assembly  do  seriously  recommend  to  all 
ministers  and  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  that  in  pres- 
sing  moral  duties,  or  obedience   to  the  law,  they 
shew  the  nature  and  excellency  of  Gospel-holiness 
ond  enforce  conformity  to  the  moral  law,  both  iri 


-.1 


h 

si 
n; 
U 

<  ar 

^^ 
H 

i  m 

th 

ini 

'\  ne 

€01 

gre 

for 

th( 

coi 

bei 

to 

the 

enc 

ing 

and 

the 

the 

the 

and 

and 


r^r-^^^sis 


they  handle  th« 
re,  and  of  his  free 
vation  of  sinners, 
urchase,  and  priv- 
tiant,  to  study  and 
ad   their  hearers 
e  of  God  and  our 
iiiversal  hoHness; 
ospel,  to  destroy 
;h  men  to  Hve  so- 
ns present  world, 
bent  on  all  who 
y  upon  the  neces- 
Christ  for  salva- 
f  repentance  for 
3  press  the  prac- 

respect  to  th^ 
tidispensably  ne- 
nand,   to   test'ify 

2  sincerity  of  our 
ciety,  the  adorn- 
laking  us  meet 
»ess  no  man  can 

commend  to  all 
el,  that  in  pres-   I 
the  law,  they    j 
jospel-holiness,  i 
al  law,  both  In 


PRESBYTERUtfS. 


.>! 


heart  and  life,  not  from  principles  of  reason  only, 
but  also,  and  more  especially,  of  revelation. 

And,  in  order  to  attain  thereto,  it  is  necessary  to 
shew  men   the  corruption  and  depravity  of  human 
nature,  by  their  fall   in  Adam ;  their  natural  impo- 
tence for  and   aversion  to  what  is  spiritually  good; 
and  to  lead  them  to  the  true  and  only  source  of  all 
:  grace  and  holiness,  viz.  union  with  Christ,  by  the 
•  Holy  Spirit's  working  faith  in  us  and  renewing  us 
i  more  and  more  after  the  image  of  God;  and  to  let 
i  their  hearers  know,  that  they  must  first  be  grafted 
I  into  Christ  as  their  root,  before  their  fVuit  can  be 
.  savory  unto  God ;  And  that  they  teach  them  the 
I  necessity  of  living  by  faith  on  the  Son  of  God,  in  a 
I  constant  looking  to  and  dependance  upon  kirn  as  the 
i  great  Author  of  all  gracious  '  sfluences  fbr  the  per- 
formance of  every   duty:   And   withal^   that,  after 
their  best  performances  and  attainments,  they  must 
count  them  but  dross  an     lung  in  point  of  justification 
before  God :   And  to  L.^kvj  it  their  great  desire  only 
to  be  found  in  Christ  and  his  righteousness :    And 
that  ministers,  in  the  application  of  their  sermons,  do 
endeavour  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of  truth,  speak- 
ing distinctly  to  such  various  cases  of  the  converted 
and  unconverted,  as  arise  natively  from  the  subjects 
they  have  been  handling:  And  that,  in  the  whole  of 
their  discourses,  they  take  care  to  suit  themselves  to 
the  capacity  of  their  hearers,  as  to  matter,  method, 
and  expression,  and  to  the  prevailing  sins  of  the  time 
and  place,  with  all  prudent  and^zealou*  freedom  and 


s 
I 


5:2 


I'RESBYTERIAXS. 


^•M'  ?1ii<  t^' 


pipif 


plainness:  As  also,  that  they  inEike  Gospel-subjccts 
their  main  theme  and  study,  and  press,  with  all  earn- 
estness, the  practice  of  moral  duties  in  a  Gospel 
manner  :  And  that  they  forbear  delivering  any  thing 
in  public,  that  may  tend  more  to  amusement  than 
edification  ;  and  beware  of  bringing  into  their  ser- 
mons and  public  discourses  matters  of  doubtful  dis- 
putation, which  tend  to  gender  strife,  rather  than  to 
promote  the  edification  of  Christians.  And  the  As- 
sembly exhort  all  .o  study  to  maintain  the  unity  of 
the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

And,  finally,  The  General  Assembly  recommends 
to  all  professors  of  divinity,  to  use  their  best  endea- 
vours to  have  the  students  under  their  care  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  true  method  of  preaching  the  Gos- 
pel, as  above  directed:  And  that  presbyteries,  at 
their  privy  censures,  enquire  concerning  the  obser- 
vation of  this  Act," 

The  greatest  objection  against  the  Presbyterian 
order,  as  by  law  established  in  Scotland,  is,  that  then- 
Ministers  arc  settled  by  the  law  of  patronage,  and 
not  by  the  consent  or  choice  of  the  people. 

This  caused  a  respectable  number  of  ministers  and 
members  to  secede  from  the  church  of  Scodand  in 
1732.  They  are  called  Seceders,  but  are  strict  Pres- 
byterians, and  have  greatly  increased  for  these  Mty 
years  past,  both  in  Scotland  and  in  the  United  States  : 
jn  Nova-Scotia,  also,  there  are  many  respectable  j 
congregations  of  PresbyUrian  Seceders.     The  only  so-  ^ 


jn  ( 

\vh 

the 

Mr. 

the 

yea 

ed 

fror 


rRESBYTfcRIANS, 


Gospel-subjects 
;s,  with  all  earn- 
L'S  in  a  Gospel 
veringany  thing 
rnuscrnent  than 
:  into  their  scr- 
)f  doubtful  dis- 
,  rather  than  to 
.  And  the  As- 
in  the  unity  of 

fly  recommends 
eir  best  endea- 
ir  care  well  ac- 
aching  the  Gos- 
►resbyteries,  at 
iing  the   obser- 

e  Presbyterian 
id,  is,  that  then- 
patronage,  and 
ople. 

►f  ministers  and 
of  Scotland  in 

are  strict  Pres- 
for  these  fifty 

United  States : 

my  respectable 
The  only  so- 


j3 


'# 


ticty  of  Presbyterians  in  this  Province  (excepting  the 
Scotch  Church  in  St.  John)  are  a  congregation  of  aS'c- 
cedcrs,  which  assemble  at  jMiramichi,  whereof  the 
Rev.  James  Thomson  is  Minister. 


MEITHODISTS. 


This  denomination  was  founded  in  the  year  1729, 
hy  one  Mr.  Morgan,  and  Mr.  John  Wesley.     In  thJ 
month  of  November,  that  year,  the  latter,  being  then 
Fellow  of  Lincoln  College,  began   to    spend  some 
evenings  in  reading  the    Greek    Testament,    with 
Charles   Wesley,  student,  Mr.   Morgan,  commoner/ 
of  Christ  Church,  and  Mr.  Kirkham,  of  MertonCol- 
lege.     Not  long  afterwards,  two  or  three  of  the  pu- 
pils of  Mr.  John  Wesley,  obtained  leave  to  attend 
these  meetings.     They  then  began  to   visit  the  sick 
m  dilferent  parts  of  the  town,  and  the  prisoners  also, 
who  were  confined  in  the  castle.     Two  years  after 
they  were  joined  by  Mr.  Ingham,  ofQueens  College, 
Mr.  Broughton,    and  Mr.  Hervey;  and,  in  1735,  by 
the  celebrated  Mr.  Whitfield,  then  in  his  eighteenth 
year.     At  this  time,  their  number  in  Oxford  amount- 
f-d  to  about   fourteen  ;  they   obtained   their   name 
from  the  exact  regularity  of  their  lives,  which  gave 


54 


WETHODrSTS. 


'1 


OCCAM  51,  to  a  young  gentleman  olCliiBt's  Ciiuich  tc 
say,"  Here  is  a  new  sect  of  Methodists  spn.no-  „n  '• 
al  uding  to  a  sect  of  ancient  physicians,  who'wer'c 
called  Methodists,  because  they  reduced  the  whole 
I'eQling  art  to  a  Cey,  common  principles,  and  brought 
.    mto  some    method  and  order.     In  the  year  1730. 
they  suffered  a  severe  loss  by  the  death  of  Mr 
Morgan,  who  ,t  is  said,  was  the  founder  of  what  was 
then,  deridmgly  called,  the  Godly  Club.     In  October 
1735   Jolm  and  Charles  Wesrey,  Mr.  Ingham,  and 
Mr.  DcllamoKe,  son  of  a  merchant  in  London,  en,. 
tarked  for  Georgia,  in  order  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
the  Indians.     After  their   arrival,    they   w^re   firs, 
favourably  received,  but  in  a  short   time,  lost   the 
affection  of  the  people,  and  Mr.   Wesley  was   ob- 
liged to  return  to  England.     He,  however,  was  soon 
•^uccee  ed  by  Mr.  Whitheld,who,  in  the  latter  Ldo 
^  December,  ,737,  embarked  for  Georgia,  and  whose 
repeated  labours,  m  that  part  of  the  world,  are  welt 
known.     After  Mr.  Mhitfield  returned  fr-m   Ameri- 
ca, in  1741,  he  declared  his  full  assent  to  the  doc- 
tnnes  of  Calvin.     Mr.  Wesley,  on  (he  contrary,  pro- 
fessed the    Armenian  doctrine,   and  had  printed  in 
favor  of  perfection  and  universal  redemption.     The 
difference,  therefore,  of  sentiments   between  these 
two  great  men,  caused  a  separation;  and  the  Me- 
thodists   were  now  divided;  one  i)nrt  followed  Mr. 
n  esley,  and  the  other  Mr.  Whitfield. 

In  England,  the  name  of  Methodist,  is  often  ap- 
plied  to  all  dissenters  from  the  established  Church 


1110] 

a  or 


i  are  r 
I  Qome 


I^., 


ii'i«t's  Ciiurch  i,. 
lists  sprung  up,' 
?ians,  who  wcrr 

• 

luced  the  whole 
Ics,  and  brou.frhf 
the  year  1730. 
5  death  of  Mr. 
der  of  Avhat  was 
6-     In  October, 
f.  Ingham,  and 
in  London,  cm- 
h  the  gospel  to 
loy    were    first 
time,  lost    the 
cslej   was    ob- 
ever,  was  soon 
le  latter  end  o( 
^■ia?  and  whose 
vorld,  are  well 
1  fr  m  Ameri- 
t   to  the  doc- 
contrary,  pro- 
lad  printed  in 
(option.     The 
etween  these 
and  the  Me- 
followcd  Mr. 

,  is  often  ap- 
lied  Churcli^  i 


MICTIIODISTS. 


55 


.."J,  not  u„(Ve^„c„,lj.  to  all  mi„|,te„,  „.|,„ 
eva„gehcaldoc.r,„es,  whether  DfecnteVs  or  cCh 
;::'■.  ^''°^=  :!'-  ^  termed  Methodists,  i„  hi 
ov,„cc  arethe  adherents  of  Mr.  VVesl  v  .„^ 
■ke  h„n  favor  the  tenets  of  A™i„i„s,  ,vhence'  thl' 
.  er,ve  the  appellation  of  Arminlan  M^thodistT  tI 
A,.m,„,us  was  a  professor  of  divinity  at  LeTdt  It 
ll"un=hed  about  the  year  1600.     I„  ,59  ,T  . ' 

'0  express  his  do„i,,s  eoncernln^^  tl  e  d    r    ^^^  r 
Talvm  nr.A  /.     ,         "^^^"ing  tne  doctrines  of 

more  nearly  resembling  those  of  Luther.  After  his 
.  ppom  ment  to  the  theological  ehair  at  Leyd™  he 
began  to  avow  and  v:ndlntf..l.„  •  .  , '""^.J '"^"'  "<= 
had  embraced,  whicl  e  pted  rt'o"?  "  "'"''  '"" 
>  oCtho^e  who  adhered  toTe  T       ,         ''''"'•''"'' 

I  Geneva.     His  tenetf^ii;S-S:::.f 

cree-  b„t  ,1  .        •     1  °." '"'^'''"'e  uncondu  onal  de- 
cree    but  determmed,  from  allcternltv    In  1     , 
Halvafon  on  these  whom  he  foresaw  wo  I'd  ' 

to  the  end,  In  their  faith  in  Jesn.  CllI"  ^'^^'^ 
fl;ct  punishment   on   those    whosho,  J  '•'■" 

=''eu-  unbelief,  and  resist  to  the  0,     h    V  """ 

ance.  2d._That  Jesus  Christ  n  hi  ;""  '""'■ 
death,  made  atonement  for  thi  's  ^  ^  aH  ''"^  ?"" 
general,  and  of  each  Individual    1  T'"^  '" 

I'owever,  none  but  those  w,rLll'''r'"' =  ""'' 

P-takersofthlsdlvinebenfit.  7'^;::''^'^".^: 
are  not  fnf nil,   i  i       ,       '^^•—Inat  mankmd 

.ome  ul  t'hl  T"  ;  ^dthatdepravity  doesno, 
me  upon  them  by  virtue  of  Adam's  being  their 


r 


^ 


'"i«^mnwm«iu.  7?i^m 


56r 


METHODISTS. 


Ill 


rifj 


public  head,  but  that  temporal  death,  and  riattiral 
evil  only,  are  the  direct  consequences  of  his  sin  to 
posterity.  4th. — That  there  is  no  such  thing  as  ir- 
resistible grace  in  conversion;  and  that  the  perverse 
will  of  the  impenitent  sinner  may  render  the  grace  of 
God  and  the  operation  of  tjie  Holy  Spirit  inclFectual. 
5th. — That  those  who  are  united  to  Christ  byfiilth, 
may  fall  from  their  faith,  forfeit  finally  their  state  of 
grace,  and  die  in  their  sins.  The  first  Arminlans,  in- 
deed, had  some  doubt  with  respect  to  the  closing- 
part  of  this  article  ;  but  their  followers  uniformly 
maintain  it.  Thus  the  Arminlans,  or  Wesleyan  Me- 
thodists, believe  that  God,  having  an  equal  regard 
for  all  his  creatures,  sent  his  Son  to  die  Tor  the  sins 
oi  the  whole  world.  That  men  have  the  power  of 
doing  the  will  of  God;  and  that,  in  the  present  im- 
perfect state,  believers,  if  not  particularly  vigilant, 
may,  through  the  force  of  temptation,  fall  from  grace, 
and  sink  into  fmal  perdition.* 

Government  and  Discipline. — Mr.  Wesley  having 
formed  numerous  societies,  in  diiferent  parts,  he, 
■with  his  brother  Charles,  drew  up  certain  rules,  by 
which  they  were,  and  it  seems,  in  many  respects, 
still  are  governed.  They  state  the  nature  and  de- 
sign of  a  Methodist  Society,  in  the  following  words : 

"  Such  a  society  is  no  other  than  a  company  of  men,  | 
having  the  form,  and  seeking  the  power  ofgodlinrss  : 
united  in  order  to  pray  together— to  receive    the 
•  Buck's  Tbee.  Diet.  .  I  h  Am.  Edv 


/ 


METH0DI5TS. 


57 


ilh,  aiitt  iiattiral 
ices  of  his  sin  to 

jch  thing  as  ir- 
lat  the  perversa 
ler  the  grace  of 
pirit  incfrectual. 
Christ  by  fiiifh. 
lly  their  state  of 
5t  Arminians,  in- 
t  to  the  closing 
wers  uniformly 
Wesleyan  Me- 
m  equal  regard 
die  Tor  the  sins 
e  the  power  of 
he  present  im- 
cularly  vigilant, 
>  fall  from  grace, 

Wesley  having 
erent  parts,  he, 
irtain  rules,  by 
many   respects, 

nature  and  de- 
illowing  words: 

:ompany  of  men, 
er  of  godliness : 
to  receive    the 


word  of  exhortation,  arxl  to  watch  over  one  another 
i)i  love  ;  that  they  may  help  each  other  to  work  out 
their  salvation."     That    it  may  the   more  easily  be 
disccHK-'d,  whether  they  are  indeed  working  out  their 
own   salvation,   each  society  is  divided   into  smaller 
comj)anies,  called  classes,  according  to  their  respect- 
ive places  of  abode.     There  are  about   twelve  per- 
sons Csometimes   fifteen,    twenty,  or  even  more)  in 
each  class  ;  one  of  whom  is  styled  the  Leader.     It  is 
his  business,    1st. — To  see  each   person  in  his  class 
once  a  week,  at  least,  in  order  to  enquire  how  their 
souls  prosper ;  to   advise,  reprove,  comfort,  or  ex- 
hort, as  occasion  may  require  ;  to  receive   what  they 
are  willing  to  give  to  the   poor,  or   toward  the  <ros- 
pcl.     2d. — To  meet  the  Minister  and  the  Stewards 
of  the  society  once  a  week,  in   order  to  inform   the 
Minister  of  any   that  are  sick,  or  of  any  that  walk 
disorderly,  and  will  not  be  reproved ;  to  pay  to  tho 
Stewards  what  they  have  received   of  their  several 
classes  in  the   week  preceding;  and  to   shew  their 
account  of  what  each  person  has  contributed.  There 
IS  only  one  condition  required  of  those  who  desire  ad- 
mission into  these  societies,  namely,  a  desire  to  floe 
from  the  wrath  to  come :  to    be   saved  from  their 
Bins :  but  wherevci-  this  is  really  fixed  in  the  soul,  it 
will  be  shewn  by  its  fruits.     It  is,  therefore,  expect- 
ed of  all,  who   continue    therein,  that   they  should 
continue  to  evidence  their  desire  of  salvation.     IsU- 
3y  doing  no  harm ;  by  avoiding  evil  of  every  kind  ; 
^specially    that    which  is   mo.^t  gonorally  practised ; 


/ 


mi 


5H 


'm 


lUETiioDisra. 


»»cl.  as  the  takms  the  name  of  God  in  vam-  ,1.„ 
Fofamng  of  the  Lord's  dav  cidw.,- 1  """'  "'« 
ry  .vorkl!.oreo»,  or  by  S,  J  1        r     ""^  '"^'^'"''^ 

'v.tl.  brother;  returning  et  I  f  r        I  ^     '     "  '"^ 
^'■"Img;  the  using  „a„y   Zdinl    '■  "''  "''"«  '^''' 

"-  giv."g  or  takig  thf„;  o  t"  7:"r;'  I'r* 

'<=™st;    uncharitable   or  unnro    '  M  '"' 

particularly  s,.aki„/eW,   o^  M      ^  '=°"^""»"°"' 

»l>oulddo  „  t:„  "      D  ;:"  T   ^"0  -"'''  "ot    they 
•he  glory  of  God.'  as  tt   ^"       ""  ''"°"  '^  "<"  "■- 

-d  in  the  nan.  of  the  Ld    ~   Tr"""""' 

-die.:K:fre^'vn:!,«';-""- 

earth;  borrowing  ^ithou  a^bZ;  7*^  "'"'' 
or  taking  up  goods  ^vithou.  ?  ^iK  F"^'"^' 
for  fhem.       It   is  expected  of ^^^l^^^  "^P'^'-'S 

''.-'*.  or  helping  fhLtttS:;:,:;!-: 


KiiM' 


J(\  in  vain;  the 
»y  <ioing  ordinn. 
"'»^;  tlrunkeri- 
^'ors,  or  drinking 

'fiCCSsity;    /ijrht- 

§»'"g   to   Jaw 
'  >  or  railing  for 
>'ing  or  selling; 
.  e.  unlawful  in- 
con  versa  t  ion  ; 
rates  or  Minis- 
ould  not    they 
tnow  is  not  for 
fgold    orcosf- 
^  as  cannot  be 
Tlie  singing 
which  do  not 
;  softness,  and 
treasure  upon 
ty  of  paying  J 
^^tj  of  pajing 
o  continue  in 
3  to  evidence 
ng  good;  by 
to  their  pow- 
'od  of  every 
all  men ;  to 
Igiveth;  by 
the  naked — 
•  or  in  prison 


I 


5^ 


METHODISTS, 

^  we  li?;'':' '"'■"''•"'''«' '•'=r'-vins,orexl.„,,ir 
an  we  have  intercourse  with     ♦..        r  ,  ^ 

business,  and  so  mimli  <l,„  ,      "  "inor  in 

will  I  .  '    '""'■•''  l^ei^^iise  tlic  world 

will  love  Its  own,  and  tliem  only  •   |,v  ^11  i      r, 

igcnce  and  frugality,  that  the  1  '    /,       '     ^'^'^  ''''■ 
1  •  ? ,  ^'   ^'  ""^  g'"'pel  Ijg  not  blamed  • 

by  runing,  w„h  patience,  the  race  set  bei 
.hem,  denying  themselves,  and  taking  .  p  [" 
c  OSS  dail^  ;  submiting  to  bear  the  rep  Lc  of 
Christ;  to  be  as  the  filth  and  offscouri.f;:  '.hf 
jorld  and  l.Lng  that  men  should  say  all  InL  f 
evil  ol  them,  falsely,  for  the  Lord's  sake. 

It  is  expected  of  all  who  desire  to  continue  m 

heir  societies  that  they  should  continue  to  evidonc" 

their  desire  of  salvation.  ''viucnce 

Jh       ®^,/'""'f  "ff  °"  =»"  "'6  ordinances  of  God  ■ 

h  are,  the  public  worship  of  God  :  the  miniW, 

0   the  word  either  read  or  expounded:  the  supper 

0   or  It  '^'"''f  -"  P-'-^^e  prayer;  searehL 
scriptui  es,  and  fasting  and  abstinence.  ^ 

both  of  oTir  i -th :  T '  ■ '"'' ""  ^""■■^■■™'  ■•"'« 

1-  Spirit   writes  on  every  trul,-  awakened 


'  i 


ismmm 


m 


MKiuoDrs^ry. 


:((! 


mw 


licait.  I.  tl.cc  1.0 .my  ai,.o»s us,  who ..bs.'rve  then, 
"..(,  >vl,o  liabilually  break  any  of  tl.om,  let  it  bo 
i"a<  o  k„,„v„  unto  the.,,  who  „alcl.  over  that  soul 
a«  Iho,.  that  must  giv«  au  account.  We  will  a.huon-' 
>^h  h„„  01  the  error  ofhis  way.,  wc  will  bear  ,vith 
h.m  for  a  .easun  ,  but  then,  if  he  repents  not,  he 
hath  no  more  place  a,„or.g  us.  We  have  delivered 
our  own  souls. 

JOHN  WKSIvKV, 
t'iIAULE.S  WKSLEiV 

In   M,.   ^V'e.le/s    connexion,  they  have  circuits 
nd  CO.,  ereuees  which  we  find  were  thus  formed  : 
>V hen  the  preachers,  at  first  went  out,   to  exhort 
"  <1  ;..-each,  ,t  was  by  Mr.  Wesley's  permission  Zl 
d,reel,o„;  son.e  Iron,  one  part  of  the   kingdom,  and 
.ome    rom  another;  and  thou-d.  frequently  stranger, 
<o  each  other,  and  those  to  when.  Ihey  Lre  sent 
Jct  on  his  e,e<lit  and  sanction  alone,  they  were  re' 
ccned  ami  provided  for,  as  friends,  by  the  Societies 
-Lerever  they  came.     But  having  little  or  no  c    „ 
-nmcat,™  or  n.tereourse  with  one"  another,  nor  J,y 
H"bordu,at,on  an.ong   themselves,   they  must   have 
been  under  the     necessity  of  recuring  to  Mr.  AVes- 

jAu.ta,showand,vhere,th''eyw.eretoa. 
"u..     lo  ren.edy  th,s  .nconvenience,  he  conceived 

-be.  ^dc^gnoteallmg  them  together  to  an  annual  con. 
By  this  means  lie  brouo-lit  tliem  \ni,.  .1 

-    *j|  I         ,  is'"-   '•i^^'Iil    into    closer   iminn 

-Uh  each  other,  and  u.de,|..m  sensible  of  tLuUl! 


oil 
he 
fcor 
Idaj 
I  foil 
'pre 
nii<j 
thci 
tioni 
clucf 


I,  who  obiic^rve  them 
of  thcjii,  let  it  he 
alcli  over  that  soiif, 
1.  We  will  a(hnon- 
wc  will  bear  with 
ic  repents  not,  ho 
VV^e  have  delivered 


ei 


^ES  WESLEY/' 

hey  have  circuits 
tire  thus  formed  : 
nt  out,  to  exhort 
a's  permission  and 
ho  kingdom,  an(' 
^quontlj  strangers 

they  were  sent, 
c,   they  were  re- 

hy  the  Societies  ' 
little  or  no  coin- 
anotlier^  nor  any 
they  must  have 
iiig  to  Mr.  Wcs- 
tliey  were  to  la- 
20,  he  conceived 
0  an  annual  con- 

ito  closer  union 
siblo  of  the  util- 


f  fty  of  acting  ,„  concert  and  hurn.ony.     H.  ,„o,.  ,•„„,„, 
"  ""f^-^O;  also,  to  bring  their  itinera,,,.  „„,„. 
-r  am  rcgulat.on,,  and  reduce  it  to  so.ne  tixed  „,,l,r 
0.1.   0  prevent  confusion,  and  for  1,1,  own  ease  :  Ho 

rj-ts-and  winch  were  ,o  situated,  that  the  greatest 
distance  rroni  nno  t„  i,,       .,  s- •.«"-■.!. 

llnnf.v„  .  ■  '"'""■'   "'"'  "»'  ""'^h  ™o''<' 

a   twenty  miles   and  united  the,„  into  what  wa» 

■  Mr.  Wesley  s  design  ,n  calling  tl,e  ,„eacl,ers  to^-cth- 
er  annually,  was  not,  merely  for  the  regulation  ot 
he  c,rcu,t,,  but  also  for  the  .eview  of  their  doc- 
trines and  discipline,  and  for  the  examination  '„  d.-ir 
n.ora  conduct,  that  those  who  we,e  toa.minlstt 
with  h,m,n  holy  things,  might  be  thoroughl,  furnish- 
ed  for  every  good  work. 

I     The  first  confcience  was  Iield  in  June,  1741    at 
f  wicb  Mr.   Wesley  , net  hi,    brother,  two  or  tl^-^ 
other  clergymen,  and  a  few  of  the  preacliers  whom 
I'c  had   apf.o,nted  to  come  from  various  pa,-ts  to 
'•onfer  with  him  on  the  affairs  of  the  societies.  «  Mon- 
day,  June  25,  (observes  Mr.  Wesley,)  and  the  five 
'"llowing  days,    we  spent  in   conference   with  our 
preachers,  seriously  considering  by  what  means  „e 
«agl,t,  the  most  clfectually,  save  our  own  souls,  and 
tliom  that  heard  us;  and  the  ,esult  of  our  consulta- 
ions  we  set  down  to  be  the  rule  of  our  future  eon- 


■■■"wraEwiii?SrT*ife^551^^2£: "' 


5%^, 


I  m 


m 


iMETIIOJi/SlS. 


.11^  M     w  ""'<■■'  r.^°"'^"^''"'^<=  "'as  been  held  annu- 
ally, M,:\Vcs\ey  hnuself  having  presided  at  fortv- 
seven.     The  subjects  of  their   deliberations   were 
proposed  in  the  form  of  questions,  whieh  were  am- 
ply  discussed ;  and  the  questions  with  the  answers  a- 
greed  upon,  were  afterwards  printed  under  the  titie 
of  «M,nutes   of    several  conversations,  eomn.only 
ealled  iM.m.tes  of  conference."   As  to  their  preach- 
ers, the  io  lowing  extracts  from  the  above  mentioned 
Mmutes  of  Conference,  will  shew  us  in  wl,at  manner 
they  are  chosen  and  designated  :_Q.  "  How  shall 
we  tp-  those  wlio  think  thej  are  moved  by  the  IIo^ 
ly  Ghost  to  proach?  A.  inquire  1st,  do  they  know 
God  as  a  pard.  ning  God .'  Have  they  the  love  of  God 
ab,d,ng  ,n  them.>  And  are  they  h„l^  in  all  manner  of 
con.ersafon.'     2.  Have  they  gifts  as  well  as  grace, 
for  the  w^ork.^  Have  they,  inson.e  tolerable  degree 
a  clear,   sound   understanding.?   Have  they  a  ri^ht 
J'ulgment  m  the  things  of  God.?    Have  f hoy    Lt 
conception  of  salvation  by  faith.?  And  has  God  .iten 
l.cma„y  degree  of  utterance .?  Do  they  „peak\,st- 
y,  readdy,  clearly  ?  3.   Have  thoy   fruit  ^Are^anl 
truly  cowv.nccd  of  sin  and  converted  to  God  by  their 
prcachu,g.?  As  long  as  these  throe  m.--rks  concur  in 
any  one,  wc  believe  he  is  called  of  God  to  preach. 
1  hese  we  receive  as  sufficient  proof  that  ho  i.,  moved 
thereto  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

To  this  we  shall  add  A.  Bknso.n's  remarks  on  the 
method  pursued  in  the  choice  of  itinerant  preach. 
ers.    "  Ut.  They  are  received  as  private  member*  of 


METHODIST*.  ^3 

>  the  society  upon  trial.  2d.  After  a  qaarterofa  year, 
.f  (hoy  are   found  deserving,  they  are  adrnitfed  a, 
proper  n.embe,u   3d.  When  their  grace  and  abilities 
are  surticently  manifest,  they  arc  appointed  leader, 
of  classes.     4th.  If  thoy   tlicn  discover  talents  for 
moro  it^porfant  services,  they  arc  employed  to  ex. 
hort  occas,onally  in  the  smaller  congregations,  when 
the  preachers  ca„„ot   attend.     5th.  If  approved  in 

\ihi^  hne  of  duty,  they  are  allowed  to  preach.     6tli. 

Uato    these  men,  who  are  called  local  preachers. 

-0  selected   the   itinerant  preachers,  who  are  fir^ 
proposed  at  a  quarterly  meeting  of  the  stewards  and 
oca   preachers  of  the  circuit:  then  at  a  meeting  of 
'he  Iravelhng  preachers  of  the  districts:  and  lasllv 
in  the  conference;  and  if  accepted  are  nominated  hv 
a  c.cu,t.    7.h.    Their  characters  and  condnotte  ex- 
.-.mined  annually  in  the  conference,  and  ,'  they  con- 
h".ue  taithful  for  four  yea,,  of  trial,  they  are  receiv- 
^^  i»to  full  connexion.     At  these  conferences,  aUo 
ptnct  ,„,,„,ry  is  ,„ade  into  the  conduct  and  success 
|ol  every  preacher,  and  those  wl,oarefo„nd  dof.cicnt 

[when  those,  whose  conduct  has  not  l.^en  n^rceahle  ,o 

the  gospel   are  e.pollod,  and  thereby  ,h,prived    f 

>ll.tho_pr.v,!eges,  oven  of  private  „;cmbe'rs  of  tl.: 

The  Methodists  are  very  numerous,  both  in  Grmt 
nla,„  and  America;  and  thoy  haw  missionaries  in 
fbo  Last  and.  WVst  Indioc.  an.l   i„    ^r,i,^,    ,„     J 


mil    i 


m 


CDNGREGATIONALISTS. 


Province  there  are  several  respectable  societies  of 
the  Weslcyan  Methodists :  viz.  at  St.  Stephen — St. 
John — Frederickton — Sheffield — Cumberland,  &c. 


CO.WREGJTIQJV^LISTS, 


m 


Are  so  called,  irom  their  maintaining  that  each 
congregation  of  christians,  which  meet  in  one  place 
for  religious  worship,  is  a  complete  church,  and  has 
suflTicicnt  power  to  act  and  perform  every  thing  rela- 
ting to  religious  government,  within  itself,  and  is 
in  no  respect  subject  or  accountable  to  any  other 
church. 

It  Joes  not  appear,  say  they,  that  the  primitive 
churches  were  national  ;  they  were  not  even  pro- 
vincial ;  for,  though  there  were  many  believers  and 
professing  christians  in  Judea,  in  Galilee^  in  Samaria, 
in  Macedonia^  in  Galatia,  and  in  other  provinces  ; 
yet  we  never  read  of  a  provincial  church  in  any  of 
those  places.  This  denomination  were  not  distin- 
guished, as  a  body,  till  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 
The  Hierarchy  established  by  this  Princess  in  the 
churches  of  her  dominions ;  the  vestments  worn  by 
the  clergy  in  the  €elebratiuii  ef  divine  worship  ;   tbiQ 


W 


OONGREGATIONALIS'1 3* 


56 


!x)ok  of  common  prayer,  and  above  all,  the  sign  of 
The  cross,  used  in  the  administration  of  baptism,  were 
very  offensive  to  many  of  her  subjects. 

They  thou^'ht  that  the  church  of  England  resem- 
bled in  too  many  particulars,  th&anti-christian  church 
of  Rome:  they  therefore  called  perpetually  for  a 
thorough  reformation,  and  purer  worship.  From 
this  circumstance  they  were  stigmatised,  with  the 
general  name  of  puritans.  Elizabeth  was  not  dis- 
posed to  comply  with  their  demands;  and  it  is  difH- 
cult  to  say,  what  might  have  been  the  issue  of  the 
contest,  jiad  the  puritans  been  united  among  them- 
selves in  sentiments,  views,  and  measures.  But  the 
case  was  quite  otherwise. 

That  large  body,  composed  of  persons  of  different 
ranks,  characters,  opinions  and  intentions ;  and  unani- 
mous in  nothing  but  their  antipatliy  to  the  establish- 
ed cliurch,  was  all  of  a  sudden  divided  into  a  va- 
riety of  sects.  Of  these  the  most  famous  was  that 
which  was  formed  in  the  year  1581,  by  Robert 
Brown.  He  was  educated  at  Camliridge,  and  was  a 
man  of  good  parts  and  some  learning. 

He  began  to  inveigh  openly  against  the  ceremo- 
nies of  the  church,  in  1586,  but  being  much  opposed 
by  the  Bishops,  he,  with  h's  congregation,  left  Enor- 
land,  and  settled  in  Middleburgh,  in  Zealand,  when 
they  obtained  leave  to  worship  God  in  their  own 
way,  and  form  a  church  according  to  their  own  mo- 
4el.  The  articles  of  their  faith  seemed  toTDo  nearly 
^he  same  as  those  of  the  church  of  England.     Tli<j 


6 


I 


n 


"BwmiwM^Meiaisas'.; 


436 


I 


<?ONGREGATIONAL1STS. 


oc  asion  oHhcu-  separation  was  not,  therefore,  ar,» 
lau  t  they  found  w.th  the  faith,  but  only  with  the  Ail 
c>phne  ami  form  of  government  of  the  ehmches  of 
JCingland. 

Tliej  cquallj  chafgcd  covnjpilon  on  tl,r  epi.cop.l 
xind  presbjterian  forms.     They  condemned  the  s^ 
lemn  celebration  of  marriage  in  the  churches,  main- 
taming  tliat   matrimony,  being  a  poh'tical   contract 
the  confirmation  thereof,  ought  to  come  from  tJie  ci-' 
VjI  magistrate,  an  opinion  in  whicli  tliej  are  not  sin- 
gular.   The  Jaws  were  executed  with  great  severitv 
on  the  Congregationah-sts,  or,  (a«   tliej  were  then 
called)  Brownists  ;  their  boots  were  prohibited  br 
^ueen  Elizabeth,  their  persons  imprisoned,  and  soma 
Hanged.     Brown,  himself  declared,  on  his  death  bod 
hat  he  had  been  in   thirtj-two  prisons,  in  some  of 
Which  he  could  not  see  his  hand  at  noon  day.     Thej 
were  so  much  persecuted,  that  they  resolved  at  last 
to  qmt  the  country.     Accordingly  many  retired  and 
settled  at  Amsterdam,  where  they  formed  a  church 
and  chose  Mr.  Johnson  their  pastor,  and,  after  him, 
iVlr.  Amsworth,  author  of  the  learned  commentarr 
^n  the  Pentateuch.     Their  church  flourished  near 
^00  years.     Among  the  Brownists,  too,  were  the  fa- 
'«ousJobn  Robinson,  a   part  of  whose  congregation 
trom  Leyden,  in  Holland,  made  the  first  permanent 
settlement  in  North  America;   and  the   Jaborioug 
Jeanne,  the  author  of  the  marginal  references  to  tha 
l^^Me.      The   Congregationalists,  or   Independents, 
^n^^nmdi  more  commendable  than   the  Brownists ; 


f,  therefore,  nnf 
•nlj  with  the  dis- 
thc  churches  of 

m  the  (>);ir^copal 
idomncd  the  so- 
churclies,  main- 
htical   contract, 
)nic  from  the  ci- 
lej  are  not  sin- 
great  severitj 
ley  were   then 
prohibited  by 
oned,  and  somo 
his  death  bed^ 
ns,  in  some  of 
u  day.     Thej 
esolved  at  last 
^y  retired  and 
ned  a  church, 
id,  after  him, 
[  commentary 
>urished  near 
were  the  fa- 
congregation 
5t  permanent 
lie   iaborious 
•ences  to  tho 
idependents, 
>  Brownists ; 


QT 


for  nolivithstandinff  tliev  mav  !,„„»      •  •    .. 

from  them,  they  exclr  ,K    ^  l"*^"  «''gmally  sprung 

*hc.r  ,e„.,me„^  and  in  ,he  order  of , heir  discipline 

ea  Dj  a  Mr.  Jacob,  m  the  year  1616      Mr 
Jacob    returnmg   from  Holland,  whence  ho  Ind  fl  d 
I  irom  the  persecution  of  Bishop  Bancroft    hf 
moned  several  of  hi.  fnends  tLtrer    a nd   I 
gamed  their  con^^nf  *«  •  •    •      ,^^^"^^»  ^"^  iiavmg 

^niovin!  Z      r  •'?"  '"  "^"''^^  ^-^Howship,  for 

<  "JO}  mg  the  ordmances  of  Christ  in  thr.  . 

nor,  they  h\t]  thn  f       >  /"^^'^^  '«  tlic  purest  man- 
>  liitjiaia  theiounaationof  thefirst  rml«.      j     . 
church,  in  Ene-hntl  in  *i.     r  n    "^  "*^^  *"^ependent 
>  "i  England,  m  the  fo  lowmo-   ww      fT^   • 

observed  a  da,-  of  solemn  Fasting  and  P  ;vcr  7'"^ 

-mgnpon  their  undertake,    tlr^rcts: 

,A     .,"'"\'^'">'  '1  f-iinsf,  and  solemnly  covenant 

God,  to  walk  together  in  all   God's  ways  an,?'  r 
nances.     Mr.  Jacob  was  then  chos  n  Zot  by  t 
uffrage  of  the  brotherhood  ;  and  others   weJ^   t' 

Tyefald  ''-'  1 '''"'''"'•  "'">    ^^'S -^ 

prayer  and  imposition  of  liands. 

^apin,  in  his  history  of  England  ;^  .«•  ♦  i 
he  represents  thp  r.l'  •         ^^"^'  '^  ^"^^taken,  when 
present,  the  religious  principles  of  this  denom 
•nation  as  eontrary  to  all  tlL  rest  of  the  ^rld  T 
Wears  from  two  confessions  nf  f  1  ^^ 

^.^y  Rolinson,  in  behalf  otT    EnS  Z  '""r"' 

-  Holland,  and  publisheJat  Le^i^^^^^ 

another  dnw-n  ,.,.  •    t      i         ^"^jutn,  in  1619,  and 

ol  fh«  commumtj-,  declaring  the  faith  Li 


»^Mn»lgwa';ni««-j.T^BBI^. 


i^i-; 


6d 


CONGKEGA'flONALlSTf;. 


a  I 


J 


1?: 


T 


order,  owned  and    practised  by  the  Cojicvregatiou^ 
churc!,rs  in  England,   that  they  dillbr  from  the  res 
of  the  Reformed  Jn   no  single  point,  of  any   conse- 
quence, except  tha!  of  ecclesiastical  government ;  and 
their  religious  doctrines  were  almost  the  same  with 
tho   >   adopted  by  the  church  of  Geneva.     Durin 
the  administration  of  Cromwell  this  sect  a&iuircd 
very  considerable  reputation  and  influence  ;  D-.d  he 
made  use  of  them  i  s  a  check  to  the  ambir^on  of  the     T 
Presbyterians,  who  uimed  at  a  very  high  'jogrne  oi    £" 
ecclesiastical  power. 

The  Congregational  form  of  church  government 
was  first  carried  to  the  American  Colonics  in  1620, 
and  by  succcsf-ve  purita.i  eraigranl?  m  lii20  and 
J 633,  from  England. 

Assorv(,ii  fhese  ^.migrants  had  received  their  ..„ 
Charter  th«v  were  formed  into  a  body-corporate  and  X 
politic,  by  die  name  of  the  Governor  &l  Company  oi  1"', 
Massachusdt's  Bay  in  JVciv-England  ;  the;-  were  em-  ^^ 
powered  yearly  to  elect  their  own  Governor,  Deputy  1  ^ 

o\  cfnor,  &c.  &c.  They  were  to  have  four  gcncr- 
al  courts  a  year,  to  choose  oflicers,  or  order  land>,  ^ 
and  make  such  laws  as  they  should  think  for  tho  ^^^' 
j^ood  of  the  Plantation,  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  !  "^ 
England  ;  free  liberty  of  conscience  was  likewisi  ^^^ 
granted  to  all  that  should  settle  in  those  parts,  to  ^^  ^ 
worship  God  m  their  own  way.  Religion  being  th(  "\^ 
chief  motive  of  their  leaving  their  native  country.  t|ie  v 
they  resolved  to  settle  that  in  the  fi-st  place;  ac- ^ricti 
cordingly  they   consulted   with  their    brethren    oi^^Th 


the  Congregatioijjfl 
tliller  from  the  rest 
int,  of  any   conse- 
al  government;  and 
lost  the  same  with 
Geneva.     Durin'^ 
tliis  sect  aDiuircd 
influence  ;  D»>d  he 
he  ambi»'  ion  of  the 
sry  high  i^ogrne  oi 

hiirch  government 

Colonics  in  1620, 

-anti   m    lli20  and 


1(1  received  their 
ody-corporate  and 
nor  &;  Company  of 
d;  tht)    were  em- 
GoveriJt  •,  Deput) 
•  have  four  gcncr- 
,   or   oidi^r  lands, 
Lild  think  for  the 
ant  to  the  laws  ot 
nee  was  likewisi 
I  those    parts,    to 
leligion  being  th 
r  native  country, 
first  place  ;   ac-' 
eir    brethren    ol 


c6ngregationaLists.  ija 

V««rt;  who  informed  them  of  the  church  order 
«d  dtsaphne  which  thcj-  had  set  up,  and  of  the 
arrant  the;,  had  for  it  i„  the  word  of'^bod 

The  new  planter.,  after  some  few  conference, 
agreed  w„h  them,  and  appointed  the  6th  of  W 
tor  the  erect,,^  such  a  church  among  the  Se 
jIr»  day  was  spent  in  fnstm™  „„j  i^'ivcs. 

P< .  .ns  who  w.     V  ^    ^ P™^"'"'  '"'^  thirty 

I .  -hen  solemnly  and  severally,  before  the  whole  as- 

.th,  wh,ch  Mr.  %,.•„.„„.  had  drawn  up,  and  given 
^m  cop.es  of,  some  days  before,  for  the"^;  por^a 

I  "aUf    '  T^r,"  **"=  '■"""'^'•"g  -ena'n  t"  L' 

l;'^r3::2ri^r^'''°"^^''"-°"'- 

*alk    together  in         W    w    !  ''™"T  °'  ''°'''  '° 

f  cased  t'o  reveal  himself  to  ufl  iZV'  ''?  '' 
i.  *u        1  1  "''cti  lo  us  m  nis  blessed  wonl  nf 

♦«  h ;  and  do  explicitly,  i„  the  name  and  fear  of  God 
'l^ofess  and  protest  to  walk  as  followdh,  throuS 
power  and  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ       ^     ^" 

^<^  '''  ^"''  r  "^^  "-  ^''d,  and  our- 
«»veh  10  be  his  people,  m  the  tru^K  ^..  ^  •  ,  -  . 
^r  spirits.  '^^^^^'^^^-'^-^--dsirDpiiciiyof 

'"^'■fyingof  us  ifZ'f        '''°  "'='='>"'g.  ™iing  and 


i 


10 


CONGREGATIONALISTS. 


n-i 


•#iiP 


tion ;  resolving  to  cleave  unto  him  alone  for  life  and 
gl  M-j,  and  to  reject  all  contrary  ways,  canons,  and 
constitutions  of  men  m  worship. 

"We  promise  to  walk  with  our  brethren,  with  all 
watchfulness  and  tenderness,  avoiding  jealousiep, 
and  suspicions^  backbitings,  censurings,  provoking? 
secret  rising  of  spirit  against  them;  but  in  all  offence; 
to  follow  the  rule  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  h 
bear  and  forbear,  give  and  forgive,  as  he  has  taugli 
us.* 

"In  public  or  private,  we  will  willingly  do  nothin, 
to  the  offence  of  the  church,  but  will  be  willing  ( 
take  advice  for  ourselves  and  ours^  as  occasion  shai 
be  presented. 

"We  will  Dot^  in  the  congregation,  be  forward,  c 
ther  to  hew  our  own  gifts  and  parts  in  speaking 
scrupling ;  or  there  discover  the  weaknesses  or  Ai 
ings  of  our  brethren,  but  attend  an  ordinary  c 
thereunto,  knowing  how  much  the  Lord  may  be  d 
honoured,  and  his  gospel  and  the  profession  of 
slighted  by  our  distempers  and  weaknesses  in  pu 
lie. 

"We  bind  ourselves  to  study  the  advancemciii 
the  gospel  in  all  truth  and  peace,  both  in  regard 
those  that  are  within  or  without,  no  way  slight 
our  sister  churches,  but  using  their  counsel  as  ne 
shall  be,  not  laying  a  stumbling  block  before  an 

*  Christian  reader,  did  ever  you  promise  and  perform  the  conteB 
of  this  paragraph  ? 


10 

in 


wi( 


der 
tier 
to] 

'ijan 
pre 


5T«. 

n  alone  for  life  and 
'  ways,  canons,  and 

brethren,  with  al! 
ivoiding  jealousies, 
jurings,  provoking?.i 
;  but  in  all  ofience; 
Bsus  Christ,  and  h 
e,  as  he  has  taugli 


i^illingly  do  nothin; 
t  will  be  willing  t 

rsj  as  occasion  slial 

ion,  be  forward,  e 
irts  in  speaking  c 
weaknesses  or  fa 
an  ordinary  ca 
!  Lord  may  be  di^ 
lie  profession  of 
weaknesses  in  pul 

he  advancemciiti 
,  both  in  regard 
t,  no  way  slightii 
ir  counsel  as  ne^ 
block  before  an| 

and  perform  the  contcnj 


C0NGREGATI0NALIST8.  71 

Ijo,  not  the  Indians,  whose  good  we  desire  to  promote, 
#nd  so  to  converse,  as  we  may  avoid  the  very  ap- 
*)earance  of  evil. 

"We  do  hereby  promise  to  carry  ourselves  in  all 
^awful  obedience  to  those  that  are  over  us  in  the 
Dhurch  or  commonwealth,  knowing  how  well  pleasing 
(t  will  be  to  the  Lord,  that  they  should  have  encour- 
agement in  their  places,  by  our  not  grieving  their 
spirits,  through  our  irregularities. 

"We  resolve  to  approve  ourselves  to  the  Lord  in 
[)ur  particular  callings,  shuning  idleness,  as  the  bane 
)f  any  state ;  nor  will  we  deal  hardly  or  oppressingly 
kvith  any  wherein  we  are  the  Lord's  stewards. 

"Promising  also,  to  our  best  ability,  to  teach  our 
phildren  and  servants,  the  knowledge  of  God  and  his 
twill,  that  they  may  serve  him  also  ;  and  all  this,  not 
%  any  strength  of  our  own,  but  by  the  Lord  Christ, 
nvhose  blood  we  desire  may  sprinkle  this  our  cove- 
liiunt,  made  in  his  name."* 

The  Congregationalists  are  now  the  most  numerous 
denomination  in  New-England.  T^jeir  congrega- 
tions, in  1801,  were  over  1000.||  In  1796,  accordbg 
to  Doctor  Morse,  their  churches  in  Connecticut  on- 
ly, were  200,  their  pastors,  170,  and  their  communi- 
1  pants,  20,000.11  In  Massachusetts,  their  number  of 
preachers,   in   1813,  were  over  400,  the  number  of 

"  Neil's  Hist  of  New-England. 
ii  Mannah  Adams'  View  of  Kolio-ions,  p.  -HO 
^rieo.  Vol.  T.  p.  1;-,^ 


72 


CONGREGATIONA  LISTS. 


churches,  nearly  500.*    They  have  probably  increas- 
ed considerably  since. 

This  denonxination  hold  the  calvinistic  doctrine, 
and  differ  from  true  presbyterians  only,  in  matters  of 
church  government.  Thej  likewise  agree  with  the 
Calvinist  Baptists  in  nlmost  every  point  o(  sentiment 
and  discipline,  excep ''  of  Infant  Sprtn&lirig  : 

this  the  Congregf  Joaai.-u  aold  as  very  essential ; 
and  they  acknowledge  children  thus  sprinkled,  to  be 
church  members  !  They  admit  none,  however,  into 
church  fellowship  until  they  can  satisf^r  the  Minis-, 
ter  and  Church,  by  giving,  eithei  a  verbal,  or  written 
account,  of  then*  experience  in  supernatural  religion 

The  on'  organized  church  of  that  order,  in  this 
Province,  ar,semhle  at  She/held,  on  the  river  St.  John. 
This  congregation  is  truly  respectable  and  orderly. 
They  have  a  handsome  and  commodious  MEET- 
JJYG  HOUSE,  with  every  requisite  accommodation 
for  a  Minister,  I  .ut  are  at  present  aestitute  ol  0^% 
fMass.  Reg.  for  1813; 


f  If  ;iS 


ii 


%.-^-: 


I 

I  probably  increas- 


BAPTIST5. 


7S 


BAPTISTS. 


I 


This  religious  sect  have  caused  the  learned  world 
l«orc  perplexity  and  research,  to  decipher  their  ori- 
gin,  thai,  all  other  denominations  in  Christendom  ;  and 
for  aught  we  find  on  record,  this  researcli  hath  baf' 
iled  all  their  erudition  in    ancient  history.     Dr.  Mo- 
sheim,  as  learned  an  historian  as  the  science  oflet- 
ters  can  boast,  bears  positive  testimony,  that  "the 
ongm  of  the  Baptists  is  hidden  in  the  remote  depths 
of  antiquity,  and  is  of  consequence  extrer     ly  difficult 
to  be  ascertained."     All  other  sects  had  their  origin 
at  or  after  the   Reformation,  but  wc  have  the  testi- 
mony  of  many  em.nent    vriters,  proving  that    the 
Baptism  of  adult  believers  has  been  held,  and  often 
administered  during  the  darkest  stages  of  popery  : 
and  Loman   t    holic  writers  acknowledge  that  the 
Churc/i  ol  Ilome  .  .uld  never  extinguish  (what  they 
•ailed)  the  heres,  of  tb-^  Ana-Baptists. 

This  being  the  case,  .  reader  must  remain  unsaf- 
Kfied  as  It  respects  the  origm  of  the  Baptists,  unless 
he  concedes  with  many  of  the  most  learned  :,i,a  pwus 
01  the  past  and  present  ages,  both  in  areat  Britain 
and  Jimerica,  who,  after  laboring  much  to  find  out 
this  very  thing,  have  confessed  "that  the  denomina- 
t'on  ot  christians,  called  Baptists,  had  their  origin  at 


%'# 


74 


BArrtJiTA. 


i 


Joidan  and  Enon.''  The  principal  point:?  ui  which 
tlic  Baptists  diL(!r  from  other  protestant  dissenters 
are  chiefly  these  two. 

Ist.  They  hold,  that  believing  adults  only,  are 
proper  subjects  of  baptiiui,  because  Chribt'.  com- 
mission to  baptize  appears  to  them  to  restrict  this 
ordiBanre  to  such  only  as  are  taught,  or  made  disci- 
ples ;  and  that,  consequently,  infants,  who  cannot  be 
thus  taught,  are  to  be  excluded.  It  does  not  appear, 
say  they,  that  the  apostles,  in  executing  ChristV 
commission,  ever  baptized  any  but  those  who  were 
ftrst  instructed  in  the  christian  faith,  and  professed 
their  belief  of  i  .  They  contend  that  infants  can  re- 
ceive no  benefit  from  it,  and  are  not  capable  of  pro- 
fessing faith  and  repentance,  which  arc  to  be  consid- 
ered as  pre-requisites. 

2d.  They  observe  that  the  meaning  of  the 
Greek  word  bapttzo  signifies  immersion,  dipping,  or 
plunging  only ;  that  John  baptized  in  Jordan  ;  that 
he  chose  a  place  where  there  was  much  water;  that  i 
Jesus  came  up  out  of  the  water  ;  that  Philip  and 
the  Ilunuch  went  down  both  into  the  water.  That 
the  terms  washing,  purifying,  burying  in  baptism,  so 
often  mentioned  in  scripture,  allude  to  this  mode  ;  'f 
that  immersion  only  was  the  practice  of  the  apostles 
and  first  christians ;  and  that  it  was  laid  aside  from 
the  love  of  novelty,  and  the  skilful  invention  of 
priests,  about  the  beginning  of  the  third  century. 
These  positions,  (hoy  think,  arc  so  clear  from  scrip 


BAPTISTS.  75 

fure,  nn5  the  history  of  the  churcli,  that  they  stand 
in  need  of  but  little  argument  to  suj  j)ort  them. 

Much  has  been  said  and  published,  for  and  against 
Infant  sprinkling  ;  and  many  books  and  pami.hlcts 
arc  m  circulation  on  this  subject  :  to  which  the  rea- 
der is  refered  for  further  information :  but  as  the 
Baptists  have,  ifi  all  ages,  been  persecuted,  for  their 
religious  sentiments,  it  may  be  necessary  to  insert  a 
few  quotations  from  the  writings  of  some  eminent 
histonam  and  divines,  who  were,  themselves,  no 
avowed  frirnds  to  the  Baptist  sentiments. 

BOSSUET,  Bishop  o/Meaux — "Experience  has 
shewn  that  all  the  attempts  of  the  reformed  to  con- 
found the  Ana-Baptists,  by  the  scripture,  has  been 
weak  ;  and,  therefore,  they  are,  at  last,  obliged  to 
allege  to  them  the  practice  of  the  church.''  (1)  " 

ERASMUS.~-«Paul  does  not  seem  (in  Rom.  V 
14.)  to  treat  about  infants.  It  was  not  yet  the  cus- 
tom  for  infants  to  be  baptized."  (2) 

LUTHER— "It  cannot  be  proved  by  the  sacred 
scripture,  that  infant  baptism  was  instituted  by 
Christ,  or  began  by  the  first  christians  after  the 
apostles."  (3) 

M.  DE  LA  ROGUE.-«The  primitive  church  did 
not  baptize  infants  :  and  the  learned  Grotius  prove. 
It,  in  his  annotations  on  the  gospel."  (4) 

(1)  Steaet's  Ans.  to  Russen,  p.  184. 

(2)  Annotat.  ad,  Rom.  V,  14. 

S    q;.l?I^^  A°'^^.°'"i°^^"*  ^^V^ism,  part  II,  p.  8. 
14)    Stcnet's  Ans.  to  Russen,p.  188.    '^         '  ^ 


I 


76 


BAPTISTS. 


If 

1 

1 

1 

n 

1"^  "i 

iki":    ii? 

Mr.  chambers — It  appears  that  m  the  prim- 
itive times,  none  were  baptized  but  adults."  (5) 

BP.  BARLOW.~-«I  do  believe  and  know,  that 
there  is  neither  precept  nor  example,  in  scripture, 
for  infant  baptism,  nor  any  just  evidence  for  it,  for 
about  two  hundred  years  after  Christ."  (6) 

M.  FOR  ME  Y.— "They  baptized,  from  this  time 
(the  latter  end  of  the  second  century)  infants  as  well 
as  adults.'*  (7) 

GROTIUS.— "You  will  not  find,  in  any  of  the 
councils,  a  more  ancient  mention  of  this  custom,  than 
in  the  council  of  Carthage."  (8) 

BP.  TAYLOR. — There  is  no  pretence  of  tradi- 
tion that  the  cburch,  in  all  ages,  did  baptize  the  in- 
fants of  christian  parents.  It  is  more  certain  that 
they  did  not  do  it  always,  than  that  hey  did  it  in  the 
first  age.  St.  Ambrose,  St.  Hicrom,  and  St.  Austin, 
were  born  of  christian  parents,  and  yet  were  not 
baptized,  until  the  full  age  of  a  man,  and  more."  (9) 

SALMASIUS  and  SUICERUS.— "In  the    two 

first  centuries,  no  one  was  baptized,  except  being  in- 
structed in  the  faith,  and  acquainted  with  the  doc- 
trine of  Clirist,  he  was  able  to  profess  himself  a  be- 
Jicver ;  because  of  these  words.  He  that  believeth  and 
is  baptized:'  (10) 

(5|  Cyclopopdia,  Art.  Baptism. 

.  (6|  Letter  to  J.  Tombs. 

(7)  Abridg.  Eccles.  Hist.  Vol.  I.  p.  33. 

(n)  Annotat.  on  Mat.  xix.  14. 

(9)  Liberty  cff  Prophecying-,  Sec.  v.  p.  04. 

pO)  Epist.  ad.l.  Justum  raciuio.    Thesaur.  Eccles.  sub.  voce.  Tom.' 
U.  p.  1136. 


I 


8.  8ub.  voce.  TotH;" 


baptists:  77 

CURSELLCEUS,  RIGALTIUS,  VENEMA, 
EPISCOPIAS,  CHRYSOSTOM,  CALVIN,  and 
DODDRIDGE,  with  many  others,  who  practised 
infant  baptism,  make  similar  honest  concessions  in 
favour  of  the  Baptist  principles. 

Some  late  writers,  have  represented  IREN.-IilUS 
as  saying,  ''The  church  received  a  tradition  from  tht 
apostles  to  administer  baptism  to  Iff.tle  children  or 
infants.  IRENiEUS  lived  in  the  second  century, 
and  is  said  to  have  been  a  disciple  of  Polycarp,  and 
Polycarp  was  a  disciple  of  John  the  Evangelist. 
This  would  seem  to  be  getting  within  between  one 
[and  two  hundred  years  of  the  point:  but  the  hie 
learned  and  pious  Dr.  John  Gill  challenged  the  wlioh 
litcraiy  world  to  produce  such  u  passage  from  the 
writings  of  Irenacus. 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  Tertullian,  of  AtVica, 
in  the  third  century,  is  the  iirst  writer  who  makes 
any  mention  of  infant  baptism.  In  his  time  some  had 
begun,  or  were  about  beginning  to  baptize  infants 
that  is,  minors,  who  could  ask  for  baptism ;  and  Ter- 
tullian, being  informed  of  this  business,  wrote  -i  book 
to  oppose  it.* 

The  Baptist  writers  seem  at  no  loss  for  material- 
to  defend  their  doctrines,  both  (com  scripture  and  th- 
Fathers  ;  and,  did  the  limits  of  this  ATork  admit  of  if, 
we  might  gratify  the  curious  reader  by  insertino 
many  strange  anecdotes  of  the  manner  in  nliich  thi 

^Benedict's  iii«t.  TQi.  r,  r.  ^7. 

X. 


78 


Baptists. 


ordtnance  has  been  treated  through  the  different  sta-= 
ges  of  the  papal  usurpation :  a  few  quotations,  how- 
ever,  maj  serve  as  a  specimen.     "About  forty  year, 
after  the  account  of  Tertuluan,  we   are  told  that 
t  iDus,  a  country  bishop,  wrote  to  Cyprian  ofCariha.e 
to  know  at  what  age  he  might  baptize  children,  fo,- 
by  hisbiblehe  could  not   tell;  nor   could  Cyprian 
tell  without  first   consulting   a  council   of  bishops. 
When  the  council  met  it  was  concluded,  that  God 
would  be  a  respecter  of  persons,  did  he  deny  that  to 
miants  which  he  granted  to  men,   that  infants  are 
equal  to  men,"  since,  added  they,  "the  prophet  Elisha 
lay  upon  a  child,  and  put  his  mouth  upon  his  mouth, 
and  his  eyes  upon  his  eyes,  and  his  hands  upon  his 
hands  4   but,  (say  they  to  Fidus)  if  you  refuse  to 
baptize  infants,  at  any  age,  you  destroy  this  equality, 
and  are  partial."     Nor  was  the  primitive  custom  of 
answering  for  one's  self,at  this  ceremony,  laid  aside.as 
yet,  for  (strange  to  tell !)  infants  came  now  into  the 
tvorld  crying  for  baptism,  which  prognosticated  that 
they  would  be  doomed  to  eternal  perdition,  if  they 
died  without  it.* 

«A  monumental  inscription,  in  Italy,  informs  the 
reader,  that  Joanna  Baptista  de  Peruschis,  daughter 
of  Alexander  de  Peruschis,  and  Beatrix  Gorzei,  when 
she  was  only  six  months  old,  mosily,  sweetly  andyrc«- 
ly  pronounced  the  name  of  Jesus  every  day  before 
she  sucked  the  breast  !  !  !" 

}The  first  arpriimcnt  in  favour  of  infant  baptism,  and  as  near   the 
point  as  any  adduced  since. 
*Bencdrct— Rubiuson,  &,c. 


n,  and  as  ucar   tlie 


BAPTISTS.  7g 

"In  the  eighth  century,  the  emperor  Charlemae„e. 

or  poht,caI  purposes,  obliged  the  Sa»„,,  „„  „«;„  „f 

death,  to  be  baptised  themselves,  and   laid  1,eavy 

lines  on  those  who  should  neglect  to  have  their  chil- 

Jren  baptized  within  the  year  of  their  birth  ! 

"By  and  by  the  efficacy  of  baptism  was  extolled 
,n  the  most  extravagant  manner  ,  it  was  represented 
as  a  most  sureand  certain  antidote  against  all  the  mo- 
ral ma.ad,es  of  depraved  nature.  It  could  wash  away 
ongmal  s.„,  and  place  in  a  state  of  everlasting  salva- 
tion all  to  whom  it  was  applied." 

"A  notion  prevailed,  which,  for  a  time,  considera- 

y  embarrassed  their  priestly  skill  :  it  was  believed 

'at  people,   relapsing  i„,o  sin  after   baptism,   lost 

he,.  ,0  defer  ,he,r  baptism  till  near  the  close  of 

"«•     And  fh,,  again  led  to  the  practice  of  pourin. 
nds       k,       i„  ,^p.,^^   .^^J^^  ^^^^J       . 

then  universallv  prevalent  modc."[( 

•'But  this  inconvenience  was  not  of  long  duration 
for    s  soon  as  parents  were  made  to   believe      at' 

^I'^nted  bv*^"    tho       iT"'  ""'   '"'  '"•"''^■»    -«- 


■■^; 


80 


BAPTISTS. 


m 


« 


m 


canons  were  made,  and  the  most  vigilant  precaution^! 
were  taken  by  popes  &nd  princes^  and  every  order  of 
ecclesiastics ;  by  nurses  and  midimes^  and  every  be- 
nevolent creature  in  .  iiristendom,  that  no  human  be- 
ing, whether  adult  or  infant,  whether  6om  or  unborn, 
should  depart  to  the  world  of  spirits  without  this 
heavenly  passport.  Baptism,  indeed,  suffered  vio- 
lence, and  the  violent  took  it  by  force."1[ 

"The  clergy,  however,  felt  the  inconvenience  of 
this  state  of  things,  for  they  were  obliged  to  attend 
any  woman  in  labor,  at  a  moment's  warning,  night  or 
day,  in  any  season,  at  the  most  remote  parts  of  their 
parishes,  without  the  power  of  demanding  any  fee, 
whenever  a  case  of  necessity  required ;  and  if  they 
neglected  their  duty  they  were  severely  punished." 
A  great  number  of  expedients  were  tried  to  remedy 
this  evil ;  but   for  a  season  nothing  succeeded.     In 
process  of  time,  however,  it  was  remarked  that  a 
priest  was  not  always  at  hand,  and  new  canons  em- 
powered him  to  depute  others  to  perform  the  care- 
mony,   and  midwives  were   licensed.     It  happened, 
sometimes,  while  the  midwife  was  baptizing  a  child, 
not  like  to  live  many  minutes,  the  mother  was  neg- 
le'i^ted  and  died.     To  prevent  such  accidents  in  fu- 
ture, it  was  decreed,  that  any  body,  licensed  or  un- 
licensed ;  a  Jew,  or  a  degraded  priest ;  a  scullion  or  i 
felon,  might  baptize." 

"In  the  year  1751,  a  humane  Doctor  of  Laws,  of 

^  Bcaedicl's  Hist  of  the  Baptists,  voL  I,  p.  S'A 


BAPTISTS. 


81 


jilant  precautions 
d  every  order  of 
J5,  and  every  be- 
lat  no  human  bc- 
r  born  or  unhoriu 
its  without  this 
jd,  suffered  vio- 
;e."1I 

nconvenience   of  | 
bilged  to  attend 
earning,  night  or  1 
te  parts  of  their 
landing  any  fee,  I 
red ;  and  if  they  | 
jrely  punished." 
tried  to  remedj 
succeeded.     \i\ 
marked  that  a 
lew  canons  em- 
rform  the  care- 
It  happened, 
iptizing  a  child, 
other  was  neg- 
accidents  in  fu- 
licensed  or  un- 
t ;  a  scallion  or 

or  of  Laws,  of  j 


Palermo^  published  at  Milan,  in  the  Italian  tongue,  a 
book  of  320  pages,  4to.  dedicated  to  all  the  guardian 
Angels,  to  direct  priests  and  physicians  how  to  secure 
the  eternal  salvation  of  infants  by  baptizing  them 
when  they  could  not  be  born."|| 

"The  first  appearance  of  sprinkling  for  baptism, 
was  in  the  third  century,  in  Africa,  in  favour  of  cli- 
nicks,  or  bed-ridden  people. 

Baptism  was  now  considered  essential  to  salva- 
tion ;  and  the  poor  sick  people,  who  could  not  go  to 
the  baptistery,  but  were  in  danger  of  destruction  if 
they  died  unbaptizcd,  made  the  best  shift  they  could, 
and  were  sprinkled  as  they  lay  upon  their  beds."!!! 

The  iCgular  Baptists,  arc  strictly  Calvinistic  in 
their  sentiments,  and  embrace  the  Independent,  or 
Congregational  form  of  dmrch  jirovcrmnent  and  disci- 
jilinc.  They  receive  none  into  their  communion  but 
such  as  can  give  some  good  evidence  that  they  arc  con- 
verted to  God,*  and  are  baptized  by  immersion,  up* 
on  their  profession  of  Jaith  and  repmlancf. 

In  Great-Britain,  America,  and  other  part:,  of  tho 
world,  the  Baptists  are  very  numerous  andrespecfa- 
ble.  In  this  Province,  there  are  hui  four  or  five  re- 
gular societies  of  that  order,  and  these  have  beeu 
too  often  confounded  with  a  set  of  enthusiastic  pro- 
fessors, who  call  themselves  by  no  other  name  than 
ihristimis ;  but  are  called  by  others,  Frec-vHl  Bap- 

II  Robinson's  Hist,  of  Bap.  p.  4iX 

*  In  this,  ho^revcr,  thry  arn,  lik,.  clh,?r  .  hurcl'-s,  too  offen  imnost*d 
unon. 


■kmx^m^iiifs^tsssmK-- 


82 


BAPTISTS. 


i'i      « 


ftsts.     They  hold  the  doctrine  of  Armiiuus,  and  the 

errors  ol  Elias  Smith,  with  many  other  strange  no- 

tioDs.     They  live  by  the  frames  and  feelings  of  their 

heated  imaginations,  and  prove  their  faith  more  by 

these  than  by  good  works— they  attend  to    no  disci- 

plme— they  ridicule  the  administration  of  the  Lords 

Supper^ihey  pretend  to  be  moved  to  speak  by  the 

spirit,  and  their  i^ma/e^  are  generally  the  most  ac- 
tive in  this  part  of  worship. 

Because  ihese  have  thought  proper  to  embrace, 
among  other  things,  a  part  of  the  Baptist  sentiments, 
people  who  want  no  more  information  on  religious 
subjects  than  what  will  enable  them  to  ridicule  and 
«  «mat,ze  the  people  of  God,  have  frequently  con- 
cluded that  all  the  Baptists  are  of  this  description 

Far  be,t  from  me,  however,  to  offend  any  indivi- 
dual des,gnedl,-,  or  to  blame  others  for  choosing  and 
holdmg  then- respective  opinions;  a  right  so  dear  to 
every  person,  and  sacred  as  conscience  itself. 

There  are,  doubtless,  many  p,„„.  and  worthy  char- 
acters  who  prefer  to  be  ranked  among  the  last  me,v 
«.oned  professors,  and  who  may  be  free  from  all  these 
delus,ve  sentnnents,  but  cannot  help,  nor  answer  for, 
the  views  andconduct  ef  others.  Atthesame  time,itis 

t  h  .St,  to  be  well  acqua,n(ed  with  the  private  „.-.„.and 
"^nuucnls  ol  every  member  in  the   society  to  which 
.l>ey  have  attnehod,  or  intend  to  attach  themset^ 
because  .<.• ,  .„y  f,,,^  sp.rits  and  prophets  are  gone' 


f  the  most  ac- 


KJAPTISTS.  83 

out  into  the  world,  and  a  little  leaven  Icareneth  the 
whole  lump.  He  that  walketh  with  wise  men  shall 
be  wise  ;  but  a  companion  of  fools  shall   be  destroy- 

*"•  bOLOMOIf. 

Dear  Reader, 

Peruse  the  preceding  pages  once  more.  If  you  lore 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  be  a  companion   of  those 
that  take   up  their  cross  daily  and  follow  him.     In- 
quire, 1st. — What  are  your  own  views  of  the  order 
and  ordinances  of  God's  house.     2d.— What  are  the 
professed  views  of  the  church  to  which  you  belong ; 
compare  these  with  the  rule  of  God's  word.     If  you 
are  right,  holding  fast  your  profession.     If  you  are 
wrong,  it  will   prove,  (not  your  instability,  as  vain- 
talkers  would  persuade  you)  but  your  love  and  obe- 
dience to  Christ,  and  your  zeal  for  the  worship  and 
ordinamces  of  his  church,  to  renounce  your  former  er- 
rors, and  since  no  church  can,  in  the  present  day, 
claim  the  exclusiv^e  right  of  being   the   only  pure 
church  of  Christ,  do  you  become  a  member  of  that  so- 
ciety, which,  upon  a  prayerful  examination  appears 
to  your  conscience  the   purest.     Never  heed    the 
opinions  and  frowns  of  the  ungodly  world,  nor  the 
Buts^  Ifs  and  May-bes  of  the  luke-warm   professor- 
Woe  unto  you  when  all  men  speak  well  of  you. 


I 


04 


rCRSECl,'TIO.V. 


peusecutjoa: 

I.,  the  introductory  page,  of  this  work,  the  reader 
was  directed  to  the  NEW  TESTAMENT  for  an 
account  of  the  persecution  inflicted  upon  the  church 
of  Chr,st  by  the  Jews.  We  also  gave  a  summary 
account  o  tlie  ten  general  persecutions  usually  reck- 
•ncd  by  historians,  inflicted  by  Pagans ;  and  shall 
now  proceed  to  notice  the  persecution  of  christians  bv 
Wose  oi  the  same  name. 

ftom  Constantme's  fmo  to   the  Reformation  ;   but 
ivhen  the  famous  Martin  Luther  and  others,  Irose 
ad  opposed  the  errors  and  ambition  of  the d     ch 
of  Rome,  ,„d   he  senfments  of  ,his  good  man  began 
«o  be  spftad,  the  Pope  and  his  clergy  joined  all  their 
foes  to  prevent  their  progress.    1' Jeneral  council 
of  the  clergy  was  called:  this  was  the  famous  coun- 
cJ  01  Irent,  winch  was  held  for   nearly   eighteen 
«"ccess,v«  years  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  pop- 
e  y  .n  greater  splendour,  and  preventing  the  Refor^ 
n>u..o„     Fronj   tnne  to  time  mnumcrable  scheme. 
«ec.  suggested  to  overthrow  the  reformed  church, 
and  ware  were  set  ou  foot  for  the  same  purpose. 

The   Inquisition  was   established  in  the    twelfth 
century  against  the  Waldenses.  but    was   now  more 


work,  tlie  reader 
AiMENT,  for  an 
upon  the  church 
gave  a  summary 
ions  usually  rcck- 
igans;  and  shall 
n  oi'christians  bv 

f  different  sects 
iformation  ;  but 
d  others,  arose, 
o  of  the  church 
jood  man  began 
joined  all  their 
general  council 
e  famous  coun- 
early  eighteen 
Jtablishing  pop- 
ting  the  llefor- 
Table  schemes 
formed  church, 
ne  purpose. 

;n  the    twelfth 
as  nou'  more 


PERSECUTlOf/.  Af, 


ilOLLJJVD, 


[and  in  other  ioiv  rmmf...      r 

fmazi^  crueh  Lri    '  ^°' """'  ^"'''^  ">«  most 
J  fe     ut-iiies   were  exercised  unrirp  tl,»  _ 

lless  and  unrelenting  hands  of  th,.  S         Z  '""'■ 

l'l.e  inliabilants  of  Ltn    f  .,    '""'"'*' '°  '*''-'■» 

observe,  thit  thi^r.  '  '^''^'"'  ^"^  ^^h^rc 

f^e  hand  onit  JZeT' h!  '''\""-''    ">■ 
tan  and  his  agents  hiZ     f.u  '  '"''"''^''•'  S^'' 

Lue,  a  greaf  pi  of  ,h  Vu"  ^"'P^'''  ^°'  "  ">, 

-«  -d  WpendenH:  t'tStsT  "  ^'''^"• 
''"en  considered  as  one  of  ,h  f    ""  """ 

■■""ntrie.  of  ,ho  ZyerL  ^"''"^'^  ^'"'^"'"^ 


10 

le 


r^t 


8^ 


PERSECUTIOiN. 


FRWCE. 


tip 


No  country,   perhapg,  has  ever  produced   morel 
martyrs  than  this.      After  many  cruelties  iiad  bcen| 
exercised  against  the  Protestants,  there  was  a  most] 
violent   persecution    of  them    in    the    year    15721 
m  the  reign  of  Charles  IX.     On  the  fatal  night  of 
St.  Bartholomew,  August  24th,  it  is  said  that  aboulj 
70000  persons  were  murdered  inParis  ir.  the  most  cru- 1 
el  manner.    A  match  having  been  concluded  between 
Henry,  (afterwards  Henry  IV,)  the  young  king  off 
Navarre,  a  Protestant,  and  the  French  King's  sister.! 
the  heads  of  the  Protestants  were  invited   to  cele-l 
brate  the  nuptials  at  Paris,  with  tho  infernal  view  of  I 
butchering  them  all,  if  possible,  in  one  night.  * 

This  horrid  scene  is  described  by   the  author  ,  , 
the  Trial  of  Antichrist,  in  ihf^.  following  language  :~ 
"Exactly  at   midnight,  on  iho  eve  of  St.  Bartholc 
mew,  (so  called,)  ]  572,  th-  a? :  rra  bell  was  rung  in  the! 
Hace  royal,  as  the   signal  of  death.     About  50o| 
Protestant  barons,  knights  and  gentlemen,  who  had) 
come  from  all  parts  to  honour  the  wedding,  were,  ai 
mong  the  rest,  barbarously  butchered  in  their  bJdsJ 
The  gentlemen,  officers  of  the  chamber,  governors, 
tutors  and  household  servants  of  the  king  of  NavarreJ 
and  prince  of  Condc,  were  driven  out  of  the  cham' 
bers  where   they   slept   in  the  Louvre,   and  being 


87 


PERSECUTION. 

in  th.  court  were  .nassacrecd  in  the  king's  pres,  nee. 
rrbe  slaughter  was  now  general  throughout  the  city, 

.'      "/trT  ""'"'  ''^'"'  ^'^y  -channels  ran 
Jownwu,  blood  mto  the  river."    I'his  was,  however, 

kgml,ed,„to  a  glorious  action,  and  the   king,  who 
was  o,,enf  the  most  active  murderer.,  boasted  that 
lie  had  put  70,000  HerCich  <  ,  death.  I  might  quote 
.he  words  of  a  French  author,  who  wrote  The  histo- 
ry ol  F  ranee,  from  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  to  Henry 
IV.  and  say,  "How  strange  and   horrible  a  thing  it 
was    n.  a  great  tow,,,   to  sec  at  least,  60,000  nTen, 
hith  p,slols    jnkes,  cUlasscs,  poignard,,  knives,  a-,d 
0  her  bloody  imtruments,  run,  swearing  and   bias- 
Jphem.ng  the  sacred  Majesty  of  God,  through  the 

I      r  ed  all,  whomsoever  they  met,  wi  ■.out  regard  of 
«state,  condition,  sc\  or  ao-P      Thn     .       *  i 

aitKi^^r  /    ;      oi^  age.      ihe  .streets   paved 

mh  bod.es,  cut  and  l.wed  topieces-the  gates  and 

vthW      ""«?   f"'^'=-'-'d  Public   places,  dyed 
^th  blood.     Shoufngs  and  hallooings^f  the  mur- 

csd,scharged,    and  the  pitiful  cries   and   shrieks 
of.  hose  that  were  murdering.     Slain  bodies  cast  out 

the  d  rt""  S?'  "''™  ""^  ''""'''  »"''  '''■''"'»  through 

doors  aL         ,"="  "°'?  "^    "'''^'""g^'  breaking  of 

.nil      r       ?  "'"'  •'"'^  ^"-^  ^"'■'--     The s^oit- 
■ng  and  sackmg  of  houses      r„„.,  ■ ' 

wavfhoc     -i         ,     'f-'-     t-arts,  some  carrying  a- 
vay  the  spoils,  and  other,  dead  bodies,  which  were 

thi:h"::r^%T'*'"'"''''"^™<'-''>  blood 

wh,ch  ran  out  of  the  town,  and  from  the  kini;'s  pal- 


MICROCOPY    RESOLUTION    TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


iJ 


1.25 


■^IIIM 

1^  m 

If  m 


II  2.5 
2.2 

ZO 
1.8 


1.6 


^     APPLIED  irs/MGE     Inc 


1653   East   Main   Street 
Rochester,   New  York        14609 
(716)   482  -  0300  -  Phone 
(716)    288  -  5989  -  Fax 


USA 


«j.. 


^^  I^ERSECUTIOK. 

ace.  While  this  horrid  scene  was  Iransactiiig.  uia- 
ny  priests  ran  about  the  city,  with  crucifixes  m  one 
hand,  and  daggers  in  the  other,  to  encourage  the 
slaughter."* 

To  conclude  this  article,  we  are  told,  that  within 
thirty  years,  there  were  murdered  in  France,  39 
princes— 148  counts,  234  barons— 147,518  gentle- 
men—and 7^0,000  persons  of  inferior  rank  in  life, 
but  whose  blood  equally  called  for  justice— 300,000 
of  these,  were  murdered,  in  a  few  years,  by  that  fu^ 
rious  Catholic,  Charles  IX. 


EJS-GLAJVD 


Has  been  the  seat  of  much  peri?ecution.  In  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII— Bilney,  Bayman,  and  many 
other  reformers  were  burned— but  when  Queen  Ma« 
ry  came  to  the  throne,  the  most  severe  persecutions 
took  place.  Hooper  and  Rogers  were  burned  in  a 
slow  fire.  Saunders  was  cruelly  tormented  a  lon^^ 
time  at  the  stake  before  he  expired.  Taylor  was  put 
into  a  barrel  of  pitch,  and  fire  set  to  it.  Eight  illus- 
trious persons,  among  whom  was  Ferrar,  Bishop  of 
St.  David's,  were  sought  out  and  burnt  by  the  infa- 
mous Bonner  in   a  few  days — 67  persons  were  this 

■"  Trial  of  Antichrist— p.  134-5. 


i  iransactiiiy.  uia- 
I  crucifixes  in  one 
>  encourage   the 


told,  that  within 
1  in  France,  39 
-147,518  gentle- 
rior  rank  in  life, 
justice — 300,000 
:?ars,  by  that  fu^ 


89 


5cution.  In  the 
man,  and  many- 
hen  Queen  Ma- 
ire  persecutions 
jrc  burned  in  a 
rmented  a  Ions 
Taylor  was  put 
it.  Eight  illus- 
rrar,  Bishop  of 
mt  by  the  infa- 
?ons  were  this 


TERSECUTIOI^. 

jear,  A.  D.  loii,  burnt,  r.mongst  vvhorn,  were  the  fa- 
«.ous  Pro  ostants,  Bradford,  Ridky,  Lati,,^,  ,„d  p,,,- 
pol.  In  the  following  year,  1556,  85  persons  were 
burn  .  Women,  also  suffered,  and  one  in  the  fla.no,, 
winch  burst  her  womb  ,bei„g  near  her  time  of  deliv^ 

ory ;  a  elnia  , ell  from  her  into  the  nre  and  burn.-. 
1  hus  even  the  unborn  child  was  burned  for  here,;' 
J  .e  Queen  erected  a  Commission  Court,  which  waj 
ollowed  by  the  destruction  of  near  eighty  more.- 

,WI   '"  !1       ''/'"  ""'"''"*•  °''"'°-'«'  "h"  suffered 
de  th  for  the  reformed  religion  in  this  reign,  were  no 

loss  than  2.7  persons,  of  whom  were  5  b;sho,«,  2. 
clergymen,  8  sentlen.en,  84  tradesmen,  100  husband- 
men abourers  and  servants,  55  womenand  4  children. 
Besides  these,  there  were  54  more  „,x!er  prosecution, 
/  01  whom  were  whipped  and  10  perished  in  prison. 

Nor  was  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  free  from  ibi.  per- 
secutmg  sp„.,t.     If  any  „ne  refosed  to  consent  to  .1. 
least  ceremony  in   worship,  ho  wa.  east  i„to  prison 
wi.ere  many  of  the  most  excellent  men  in   the  1.",' 
pcnshed.     Tv,.o  Protestant  Anabaptists  ::r  '    nm 
and  many   bamshed.     She  also,  it  Is  said,  put  two 
Browmsts    to   death-and  though  her  whole  L 
was  distinguished  for  its  Hiticarprospe-"'  ^      ': 
evKlent  she  d.d  not  understand  the   rights  of     on 
scenee;  for  ,t  ,s  said,  that  more   sanguinary  Zs 
were  made  m  her  reign  than  in  any  of  her  predeces- 
sors and  her  hands  were  stained  with  the' lood  " 
Ooth  l^aptrsts  and  Vm^im^^. 


:#*^^ 


9a 


I'ERSECUTION. 


■f      r 


111! 


James  1.  succeeded  Elizabeth:  he  published  a 
strctly,  and   without  any  exception,  to  all  ,1^  rite, 

st  7ZT  "'  *''  '''"^<="  "'  ="g'-''-     Above 
5«)  of  the  clergy  were  immediately  silenced,  or  de- 

cated,  and  some  distressed,  censured,  and  fined  in  the 
Star  chamber.     Two  persons  were  bunu  for  here! 

Worn  out  w.th  endless  vexations,  and  unceasing  per- 

t  ASrTt^'f '"'"  """^"''  -'^  '">-  'here 

hatr  th        i  "  ""T"-^  ^^  ^  J"'^''^'''"^  historian, 
'"at  m  tljis  and  some  following  reigns    22  nnn 
sons  were  banished  from  England  if  P""" 

America      In  Ch  u  **^'"""^'  V  persecution,  to 

sertr'u  °       r      '\^"^'''  ""^ -■'"=«  'he  per. 
hietrch;  w     «     f    "'  '^"^  ^"""S  '^  ''o*  ^g-n^t 

^;npH::nt:i^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

:  isKb"  '"^  "'^/o-  ofT  rct^^: 

one  side  of  his  nose  slit ;  branded  on  the  ch«  t ,  -.J 
a  red  hot  imn  «,;<!,«  o         , .  eneek  with. 

,n^    I      V      '  •  ^- '  ^"hipped  a  second  time 

and  placed  m   the  pillory.     A  fortnight  aftern^rTs' 
h.s    ores  bemg  yet  uncured,  he  had  the  other  ear  cut 

a  William  Piy„„,.i::Lrff:'/zrhi\:;i^ 

^  lu  i^incolii  ^  Inn,  degraded  from  his 


efit^smm^ 


published  a 
its  to  conform 
0  all  t]ie  rites 
and.  Above 
'need,  or  de- 
'  3xco*iimuni- 
i  fined  in  the 
nt  for  hcre- 

t  Litchfield, 
iceasing  per- 
from  thence 
'U3  historian, 
22,000  pcr- 
rsecution,  to 
ose  the  per- 
•  distress  to 
>ook  against 
s,  perpetual 
•St  whipped, 
Jars  cut  off; 
cheek  with 
Bcond  time, 

afterwards, 
her  ear  cut 
ther  cheek 
Long  Par- 
''ears  after, 
^  he  wrote 
s  deprived 
d  from  liis 


PERSECUTION. 


tl 


degree  at  Oxford  set  in  the  pillory,  had  his  cars  cut 
off,  imprisoned  for  lire,  and  fined  five  thousand 
pounds.  Nor  were  the  Presbyterians,  when  their 
government  came  to  be  established  in  England,  free 
from  the  charge  of  persecution.  In  1645,  an  ordi^ 
nance  wa.  published,  subjecting  all  who  preached  or 
wrote  agamst  the  Presbyterian  Directory  for  public 
worship,  to  a  fine  not  exceeding  fifty  pounds ;  and  im- 
pnsonment  for  a  year,  for  the  third  offence,  in  using 

vate  famF/'*  ^""^  "^  '''"^'"  P'^^^^'  ^^^"  '^  ^  P^^ 

In  the  following  year  the  Presbyterians  applied 
to  Parhament,  pressing  them  to  enforce  umformitu 
m  re.gio„,  and  to  extirpate  popery,  prelacy,  heresv! 
schism,   &c.   but    their   petition   was  rejected.     In 
Charles  the   Second's  reign,  the  act  of  uniformity 
p^..3ed,  by  whicl.  two  thousand  clergymen  were  de- 
prived of  tneir  benefices.     Then  followed  the  con- 
venticle  act,  and  the  Oxford  act,  under  which,  it  is 
said,  eight  thousand  persons  were  imprisoned  and 
reduced  to  want,  and  many  to  the  grave.     In  this 
reign  also  the  Quakers  were  much  persecuted,  and 
.and  h"  ?^^h-7P-oned.  Thus  we  see  how  Eng- 
land has  bled  under   bigotry  and   persecution ;  nor 
was  toleration  enjoyed,  until    William  III.  came  to 
he  throne,  who  shewed  himself  a  warm   friend  to 
the  rights  of  conscience. 

The  ascension  of  the  present  Royal  Family,  was 
auspicious  to  religious  liberty;  and  as  their  Majes- 


I 


wmm 


(K5 

ties  have  ah.ays  beCri.,,„led  tUo  ...lera,,.,,.  .l.c  .„,,;. 
of  persocitiou  Jms  been  long  curbul.  '  ^ 


l^-.  i' 


■n 


f|a. likewise  been  dre„ched  wilb  the  blood  of  ,Ik- 
Pro(esta„ts_1o  or  30,000  of  whom   were   cr,  c 
murdered  in  a   few  d-ivs  ,„  ,i  n-  > 

k'ligclom,  ,n  the  reigi,  of  Charles  I      r.  V 

23d  of  October  Ifili      H  ^'■'"  ""  ">'' 

u  o.  ycioDei,  1611.     Having  secured   the  nrlnri 

pal  gentlemen  and  seized  their  effects  LT  ^  T 
cd  the  common  people  in  cold  bloo,     fo,?  """        " 
thousands  to  11,  fro'm  their  hou'r^Uet  L^^ 
naked  mto  the  b<^.  and  woods,  where  thlpj-'h' 
ed  wit'.  hunger  and  cold.     Some  thev  Tw  ^ 
death,  others   they  stript  nakeT      7  e  tTd  t 
shan,e,  and  then  drove  them  like   hoi  of':!  t: 
f-sb   m   the  mountains:    man,   hundreds       ere 
drowiK.d  m  nvers  :  .some  had  their  throats  cut,  oth" 
-s   were  d.smcn.bered.     With  some  the  exec  a  lo 
V     nns  made   themselves  sport,   tr,ing   who  cou 
hack  the  deepest  mto  an  Englishman's  flesh  ,   wives 
andjoung  v,r-.ms   abused  in  the  presence  of  their 
nearest  relations  ■   nny,  they   taught  their  children 
'o  str,p  and  k,ll  the   children   of  tlie   EnMish    and 
dash  out  their   brains   against   the   s^onel     T lu 
-nany  thousands  were   massacreed  in  a   (e^y  day/ 
without  ..stmcion  of  age,  sex  or  ^uaIity,  before  thev 


fERSECl/TIOJT. 


'dttou,  the  Spirit 


d3 


lie  blood  of  the 
were   crue!l_y 
}  irts   of   thf; 
t  hcgan  on  the 
ed  the  princi- 
they  murder- 
forcing  many 
d  sottIemen(s, 
'   they  perish- 
y  whipped  to 
exposed  to 
•Is  of  swine  to 
idreds     were 
oats  cut,  oth- 
lie  execrable 
;   who  could 
flesh  ;    wives 
nee  of  their 
leir  children 
Gnghsh,  and 
>nes.     Tiius 
(qw  days, 
before  they 
(irovide  for 


SCOTLAND,  SPMJY,  «,,. 


Besides  the  before  mentioned  perser„hV.n     .u 
have  been  several  others  carried  oln' 
of  the   world.     Scotland,   for  rl„"  "  """""'  P'''^ 
faas  been  the  scene  of  cruelty  a^d  hi  ^n'r"""-' 
was  delivered   by  .he  m»  rch    at  H  ',""  '"' 

Spain.  Italy,  the  valley  of  pTdmon    t/'T'""""- 
CCS,  have  been  the  seats  of  leh  p";;"'/""?''- 

chievous  work  -  it  h^^  tr.  .  "'^  "^^s- 

of  millions  of  Jews  Mlr;r'  '"'  '"'  "'«  "-« 
When  the  Moors  on^LrTd  gpai  "'  ^r'"'''"'' 
century,  they  allowedTheChrS  '  V"  '"  "^'"'^ 
tise  of  their  religion ;  but  in  tl'  rr.  ■  ^""■' 
when  the  MoorsLe'over  1  If^t  "f"^^' 
dued  the  Moriscoes,  the  de,r ^       ^""^""""^  '"^ 

Moors,  -„y  tho^slnis^trf:'-?^'^  ''"'^ 
or  burnt,  massacreed,  or  banl  ed  a^d  ^  ^'r' 
dren  sold  for  slaves  -  h    '^      ■  *^^^^  ^^i  - 

=h.red  the  safrc^^f  ^^-^-^'''e  ■'-vs  .ho 
"Vernal  courts  of  Inqui  2n    'f  '^  "T"  ^'^  "^^ 
,  possible,  was  made  amon°\         °'"'  '"''"»'"'''•'  i^ 
America,  whoretftr  millt    "'"^  '"' 'P^"'^'' 

b-nsacnfieedtothe"™  '   "p  '''"  ^^"''^  '"  '-« 
'  'r  years.     It  has  b«.f  P*''.''' '"  '»''<«>'  for- 

|of  Protestants  Wer^.rP"';'^  "'^'  «%  m.llions 

'-of  the  perserul'!nh    £,•  ^"."'^  '- 

h-i' for  their  reli,,o„sopiniot.XThrir 


■5 
■I 


94 


PERSECUTION. 


might  the  inspired  penman  say,  that  at  mystic  Baby- 
lon's destruction  was  found  in  Iier  the  blood  of  pro- 
phets, of  saints,  and  all  that  was  slain  upon  the 
earth.     Rev.  XVIII,  24. 

To  conclude  this  article,  who  can  peruse  the  ac- 
count here  given,  without  feeling  the  most  painful 
emotions,  and  droping  a  tear  over  the  madness  and 
depravity  of  mankind  ?      Does  it  not  shew  us  what 
human  beings  are  capable  of,  when  influenced  by  su- 
perstition, bigotry  and  prejudice  ?     Have   not  these 
baneful  principles  metamorphosed  men  into  infernals, 
and  entirely  extinguished  all  the  feelings  of  humani- 
ty, the  dictates  of  conscience,  and  the  voice  of  rea- 
son ?     Alas,  what  has  sin  done  to  make  mankind  such 
curses  to  oi|e  another  !     Merciful  God,  by  thy  o-reat 
power  suppress  this  worst  of  all  evils,  and  let  truth 
and  love,    meekness   and    forbearance    universally 
prevail  ! 

PJLSE  CHRISTS. 

According  to  the  prediction  of  our  blessed  Saviour, 
Matt.  XXIV.  14,  we  find  that  many  false  Christs 
have  arisen  at  different  times;  an  account  of  wliom 
will,  no  doubt,  be  new  and  gratifying  to  many  of  my 
readers. 

1.  Caziba  was  the  first  of  any  note  who  made  a 
noise  in  the  world.  Being  dissatisfied  with  the  state 
of  things  under  Adrian,  he  sat  himself  up  at  the  head 
of  the  Jewish  nation,  and  proclaimed  himself  their 


FALSE   CIIRlsl's.  ~, 

Jo»s  cx|)nc(r,l  Messiah.     He  wi,  „„.    ,•  .l 
ditti  who  infested  Judcn  and  r  f     "'"  ''^"- 

violence  against  the  R  ''""'""'«''  »"  k'"<Js  of 

powerful,  tha.he  was  ehosen  kin"  o     h     r""""  ^"^ 
r  .he™  acknowiodged  <he.V  2^^  l^  "' 
<o  faeihfate  (he  success  of  this  ent!.  [''"'"'ver, 

53     ^      -lie  ciiose  a  iorerunner    m'cor]  o« 

anointed  Kino-  coinorl  n  "  '''''":^^'  ^^^^ 

j\jn^,  coined  money  inscribrfl  iv.fK  i  • 

"'-"ne,  and  proclaimed  himself  Me    iah  w       "  °"'" 
»'«  Jewish  nation.     Adrian  ra  seH  .  ''""''  "'^ 

"  against  him.  He  retlrTd  int  .  "™^  '""^  ^O"' 
where  he  w„  bes  't,  "„"'"'''  ""*"  called  Bither. 
•hesiegetl.  1;  f, ;  ,«^-'>-'-ba  was  killed  in 
succeeded.     Thf;:;f"'  7'  -'-'Jful   I..V0C 

ing  this  short  w  r  atlL.  rt"  '"""'  "'=>'  ''"'- 
this  false  Messiah,  they  wL  "''."'', '"  ''='"--'-  "'• 
^and  souls.  Thi=  was  in  t  r  " '"  ^'""'^''"^  "'°«- 
cond  century.  '  '^'™"'-  1«''  oC  the  se- 

f'-ore,e„si.\,j;t2:t-':-^^ 

ses,  sent  to  deliver  thn    T«  .  ^^  ^^°" 

and  promised  to  divide    Jr:'  I^  ""t  '^  ^-^. 
passage  through  it     Th       ,  ?'         ^"''  """»  "  «afe 

-i.-.i:thV;;,Jt',:-;;;/;;:'t'r''-« 


96 


FALSE   CHRIST9. 


HI 


1/ 


them  as  they  could  conveniently  carry;  and  on  the 
day  appointed,   this  false  Moses,  hav^ing  led  them  to 
the  top  of  a  rock,  men,  women  and  children,  cast 
themselves  headlong  down  into  the  sea,  without  the 
least  hesitation  or  reluctance ;    till  so  great  a  number 
of  them    were  drowned,  as  opened  the  eyes  of  the 
rest,  and   made  them  sensible  of  the  cheat.      Thev 
then  began  to  look   out  for  their  pretended  leader, 
but  he  disappeared,  and  escaped  out  of  their  hands.  ' 
3.     In  the  reign  of  Justin,  about  520,  another  im- 
postor appeared,  who  called  himself  the  son  of  Mo- 
ses.    His  name  wa  ,  Dunaan.     He  entered  into  a  ci- 
ty of  Arabia  Felix,  and  there  he  greatly  oppressd  the 
christians ;    but   he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  put  to 
death  by  Elesban,  an  Ethiopian  general. 

4.  In  the  year  529,  the  Jews  and  Samaritans  re- 
belled against  the  emperor  Justinian,  and  set  up  one 
Julian  for  their  king,  and  accounted  him  the  Messiah. 

The    emperor  sent   an  army  against  them killed 

great  numbers  of  them — took  their  pretended  Mes- 
siah prisoner  and  immediately  put  him  to  death. 

5.  In  the  year  571  was  born  Mahomed,  in  Ara- 
bia. At  first,  he  professed  himself  to  be  the  Mes- 
siah, who  was  promised  to  the  Jews.  By  this  means 
he  drew  many  of  that  unhappy  people  after  him.  In 
some  sense,  he  may  be  considered  in  the  number  of 
false  Messiahs. 

6.  About  the  year  721,  in  the  time  of  Leo  Isarus, 
arose  another  false  Messiah  in  Spain :  his  name  was 
Serneus.      He   drew  great  numbers  after  him,  t© 


PALSE   tfllUlSTS. 


y,  and  on  the 
ng  led  them  to 
children,  cast 
Ba,  without  the 
[reat  a  number 
le  eyes  of  the 
cheat.  Thejr 
tended  leader, 
'  their  hands. 

iO,  another  im- 
he  son  of  Mo- 
Bred  into  a  ci- 
Y  oppressd  the 
Br,  and  put  to 
J. 

Samaritans  re- 
nd set  up  one 
1  the  Messiah, 
them— killed 
c tended  Mes- 
to  death. 
5med,  in  Ara- 
)  be  the  Mes- 
^y  this  means 
after  him.  In 
lie  number  of 

►f  Leo  Isarus, 
bis  name  was 
,ftev  him,  to 


97 


their  no  small  loss  and  disappointment,  but  aJl  his  pre- 
tensions came  to  ncthing. 

7.  The  12th century  was  fruitful  in  false  Messiahs; 
^r,  about  the  year  1137,  there  appeared  one  lu 
France,  who  was  put  to  death,  and  many  of  those 
who  followed  him. 

8.  In  the  year  1 138,  the  Persians  were  troubled 
with  a  Jew,  who  called  himself  the  Messiah.  Ho 
collected  together  a  vast  army—but  he  too,  was  put 
to  death,  and  his  followers  treated  with  great  inhu- 
m.'ijiity. 

9.  In  the  year  1157,  a  false  Messiah  stirred  up 
the  Jews  at  Corduba,  in  Spain.  The  wiser  and  bet- 
ter sort  looked  upon  him  ns  a  madman,  but  the  great 
body  of  the  Jews,  in  that  nation  believed  in  him.''  On 
this  occasion  almost  all  the  Jews  in  Spain  were  de> 
stroyed. 

10.  In  the  year  1 167,  another  false  Messiah  rose 
in  the  kingdom  of  Fez,  which  brought  great  trouble.^, 
upon  the  Jews,  that  were  scattered  through  that 
country. 

11.  In  the  same  year,  an  Arabian  set  up  thera 
^r  the  Messiah,  and  pretended  to  ^vork  miracles.- 
VV  hen  search  was  made  for  hnn,  his  followers  A.-d, 
and  he  was  brought  before  the  Arabian  king.  Being 
questioned  by  him,  he  replied,  that  he  was  a  prophet 
sent  from  God.  The  king  then  asked  him,  what 
sign  he  could  shew,  to  confirm  his  mission.  Cut  my 
head  off,  said  he,  and  1  will  return  to  life  again.  The 
king  took  him  at  hi.  word,  promisinir  to  hA'^eyo  h>m 


H 


¥•■*■ 


If* 


FALSE    CHKISIS. 

ifl.i^l..ed,Vtioii   came   to  ,m,,.     Tl.o  p,.o,-  wrelcli 

nalioii  put  under  a  very  heavy  f,,,,.. 

12.     Not  |„„g  „ft„.  ,|,i,  „  j^„.^  ,^ ,,^^  ^,^^,^  1^  1^ 

fa"e  nun?   '"'«''  I'™""  ""  ^"'^'^''^   -<'  J'-' 

ecu  ,0  „r         ■?  '•''."■°"'  =""'  ''^'  -^"'  '"  "- 

ZZ.     T  ,.,gl,,.     He,  like   the  rest,  perisl.cd  iu 

mlt  itl  pi-^""',"''*'  "  '""«'"^"  ""-^  '■=''-  Chris, 
ajose  in  Persia,  «l.o    was   called   David  Aln.usser 

He  pretended  he  could  make  himself  invisib  Tut 
he  was  soon  taken  and  pu,  to  death,  and  a  h  avy 
fine  laid  upon  his  brethren,  the  Jews.  ^ 

14.     In  (he  year  1 1 77  another  of  these  impostors 
arose  III  Moravia,  but  his  pretensions  were  defe    ed 
and  ho  hirnself  put  to  death.  ' 

15.  In  the  year  1 199,  a  famous  cheat  and  rebel  rv 
erted  himself  inPersia,called  David  el  David.  He  J," 
a  man  of,  „„,„g  and  a  great  magieian,  and  p     end 
e<l  to  be  the  Messiah.     He  raised  an'arm/aS 
he  ki„s,b,it  was  taken  and  imprisoned:  and,  having 
»    de  his  escape,  was  afterwards  seized  again  and 

7  '"'  '^''^"'g  part  with  this  impostor. 
10.     ^Ve  are  told  of  another  false  Christ  in  this 
«me  c.,Uurv.  bv  Mainu>n,des  and  .Solomon ;  b„,  they 


poor  wretch, 
innJ  (lioclicat 
kho  hud  hccii 
slicd,  ami  ilio 

(Iwf'lt  hcvoiid 
li,  and  drew 
a  sign  of  it, 
:urcd  in  tht 
t,  perished  in 
cutiori  oi>  hi^ 

i  false  Christ 
itl  Almusser. 
invisible,  but 
ind  a  heavy 

sc  impostors 
re  defeated, 

nd  rebel  ex- 
n*d.  He  was 
nd  pretend- 
■my  against 
and,  having 
1  again  and 
It  re  butch- 

irist  in  this 
n;but  they 


FALSE   CHRISTS. 


99 


took  no  notice  either  of  hi.  r.ame,  country,  or  good 
or  ill  success.  Here  we  nnay  observe,  that  no  Ics^ 
than  ten  false  Christs  arose  in  the  12th  century,  and 
brought  prodigious  calamities  and  destruction  upon 
the  Jews  m  various  parts  of  the  world. 

17.  In  the  year  1407  wj  find  another  false 
Chnst  whose  name  was  Ishmael  Solphus,  who  delud- 
ed the  Jews  in  Spain.  He  also  perished  and  as  many 
as  behoved  in  him  were  dispersed. 

18.  In  the  year  1500,  Rabbi  Lemlcm,  a  German 
Jew  of  Austria,  declared  himself  a  forerunner  of  tho 
MesH.ah.  He  pulled  down  his  own  oven  and  prom- 
ised  his  brethren  that  thoy  should  bake  their  brcid 
in  the  Holy  land  next  year. 

19.  In  the  year  1509,  one  whose  name  was  Plcf- 
ferkorn,  a  Jew  of  Cologn,  pretended  to  be  the  Messi- 
ah; he  afterwards  affected,  however,  to  turn  Christian. 

20.  In  the  year  1534,  Rabbi  Salorao  Malcho. 
giving  out  that  he  was  the  iMessiah,  was  burnt  to 
death  by  Charles  the  5th,  of  Spain. 

21.  In  tho  year  1615  a  false  Christ  arose  in  the 
East  Indies  and  was  greatly  followed  by  the  Portu- 
guese Jews  who  were  scattered  over  that  country. 

22.  In  the  year  1624,  another  in  the  low  coun- 
tries pretended  to  be  the  Messiah,  of  the  family  of 
David  and  of  the  line  of  Nathan.     He  promised  to 
destroy  Rome  and  overthrow  the  kingdom  of  Anti- 
christ and  the  Turkish  empire. 

23.  In  the  year  1666  appeared  the  false  Messi- 
ah, Zabathai  Izevi,  who  made  so  great  a  noise  and 


100 


N 


V 
V 

V 


■N 


r.ALSE   CHRrSTS.  (/  ^ 

f;ai'nccl  such  a  number  oi'  proselvfoq      If..  ? 

^   A  cpp„    „a  „„po„.d  on  the  Jcvs  f„,.  a  considera- 
h  7  ''  '"Tu'r"'"''^  -"'  ='  view  of  saving  ,,i. 

24     The  last  false  Christ  that  had  made  any  con 
erabe  number  of  conve..  ,vas  one  Rabbi  mX 
.a.    a  J  „  of  Germany.     He  appeared  in  ,he  .-ear 
1632.     It  was  not  long  before  he  was  found  out  fo 

liui  seem  to  be  recorded.     This  mnv  >.« 
oiessGd  bavjour  as  can  well  be  given. 

^OMPASSIOJ^ATE  R-:adER 

deserted  people.  ""TwlT/'oTr  ''^''  '"  "'^  P"""  ^^^^^^^^  -d 

are  left  to  believe  any  th.n/ Jt^u;  Tl"  '""'""•  '^^^•^ 
Heved  .every  i.po.stor  .•  Y^t  when  tlf 'nr/otTr^ ''^  '" 
his  own,  his  own  received  him  not  •"  «h.  f      f  '"''^^  '^""'^  ^"^ 

and  in  thei,  ^^yna,o,..es"--heh:i./:H  tilt  7     'r  *'^" '^'•^^^^' 
them-he  went  about  doing-  .ood    hi  ^^  '^''^^'^'^  ^'"^"g- 

for  thein,  "Father  forgive  di^m  'r;"^,  ^^   °'''.  '''"'"  "'^'   ^"'^  P^^^ed 
«ify  hi„,_cr«cify  hi,Lbi   ;"od  d?     ''  "T  "^"^^  "'^^  '^""-"u- 

This  people  we'e  on.e  the  tori Ls  J  Z  '"'  "^  °"^.  ^'"'^^^"•" 
for  more  than  seventeen  hundred  tar         I'"'.       ''^'^  '^^"°°"  ^^^'^ 
C.d,  because  of  their  unbelief  anf        "f !""  *'^^  ^^^^^T  judgments  of 

The  number  of  .ew.  throu  houTth"^^  ^if  ^^^  ^^^^^  °^  ^'«^- 
Ifnrtecn  ,nillioas.  How  dreadful  tl  n  1  '  ^  '"''"^'  ««t'n»ated  at. 
without  Christ,  and  dyil  "  '  ''  ''°"^''^'  *^**  «««  ««"!  ^^  living 
that..7Wa;e  i'/tf "  L:  t^^f;  ;  ^"*  ^^  dreadful! 

them,  O  !  m-ny  (o  Pod   f        ,  .  ^''"  *=^"   '^°    "'^   «iore  to   heln 

'i--  i"  KllCa  d/r  '  ""7^^  °"  ""  ^^"-^^  «^  ''^nevolent  Chris- 
rising  funds  c\;;::,:ri?:  "'^r^'  --^  ^^^'^-^'-^  -^^^^^^^  - 

<^o^J.  once  more  in  th.ir  eal  "^      '  ^^'^'^  °'  '"^  ^f''*^^  -^• 


y^^^. 


^^, 


/. 


y^^^f^^  ^/a^^4y^^ 


trii. 


